First Look: GIANT’s Riverwalk Flagship
What do a private elevator, beer garden, and online order pickup station have in common? They’re all elements of the customer experience at The GIANT Company’s new flagship store in Philadelphia’s Logan Square neighborhood.
“Philadelphia’s grocery scene is experiencing a major renaissance and The GIANT Company has been at the forefront, introducing new formats, opening new stores, and expanding grocery delivery services,” said Nicholas Bertram, president, The GIANT Company. “Our Riverwalk store celebrates this transformation, offering an elevated omnichannel grocery experience unlike anything Philadelphia has ever seen.
Riverwalk GIANT opened March 19 at 60 N. 23rd St. as a centerpiece of Philadelphia’s new Riverwalk mixed-use development project. The store is The GIANT Company’s fifth location to open in Philadelphia, joining its Grant Avenue GIANT and three GIANT Heirloom Markets. These stores, along with the just announced Cottman Avenue project and the company’s Island Avenue e-commerce fulfillment center slated to open in November, bring the company’s total capex investment in the city to more than $106 million.
The new 2-story, 65,000-square-foot urban flagship is located on the 2nd floor of a 25-floor residential tower. One of the perks residents of the living space above the store have is exclusive access to a private elevator, bringing them directly from their apartment to the second level sales floor of the flagship.
All other customers will utilize an elevator, escalator, or stairs to reach the full store on the second floor; a dedicated cartalator safely transports shopping carts between levels. Riverwalk GIANT also offers a ground level parking garage with direct access to the store’s lobby. Upon entering the lobby, which is accented by the work of local artists, a full-size Starbucks awaits, as does a GIANT Direct pickup station for orders placed online, offering added convenience for on-the-go shoppers.
Inside, the heart of the store features a food hall overlooking the Schuylkill River. Customers can also enjoy food and drink on a picturesque terrace, complete with lounge-style furniture and fire pits. The food hall offers eats from Mission Taqueria, a Sansom Street favorite for creative, high-quality Mexican cuisine; soup and salads from Conshohocken-based Saladworks; responsibly sourced, premium sushi from Hissho Sushi, plus made-to-order sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, smoked meats, hot foods, and gelato.
“Our new brand platform, For Today’s Table, is all about encouraging families to connect over a meal; it’s what we stand for and guides all that we do,” added Bertram. “Our Riverwalk store brings For Today’s Table to life in a way that until now, we have only dreamed about. It’s the sum of the team’s very best work and is a tangible symbol of The GIANT Company’s continued focus on omnichannel growth, innovation and above all else, families and community.”
The store also features a Beer Garden, complete with a self-serve tap wall offering more than 40 craft beers, wines, hard seltzer, cider, and kombucha on tap. Riverwalk’s robust beer and wine collection is the largest in The GIANT Company’s footprint.
In-Store at Riverwalk
With 600 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, including many from local farms, the company’s signature produce department was designed to inspire shoppers to discover new ingredients and create healthy meals at home.
In response to the growing demand for meat-free alternatives, the Riverwalk store features the company’s largest plant-based section to date. Customers will find meat and fish substitutes including Impossible and Beyond products, vegan cheeses, ice creams, and other desserts.
A full-service meat and seafood department includes a newly introduced aged beef program with steakhouse quality cuts, such as bone-in rib eyes and strips, aged in-house for up to 42 days. The store will also offer a wide range of fresh, sustainably sourced seafood, including fish, lobster, and shellfish.
The Riverwalk location also includes a large cheese section, offering a wide assortment of domestic and imported cheeses plus selections from Philabundance’s Abundantly Good cheese label that helps support dairy farmers in the commonwealth. Customers will be able to receive food and wine pairing recommendations.
A full-service deli offers Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses along with an expanded selection of prepared foods and grab and go meals. The department also includes a charcuterie station and a mozzarella station featuring cannoli and more from Caputo Brothers Creamery, based in Spring Grove, PA.
Riverwalk also carries locally sourced products from One Village Coffee, Claudio’s, High Street on Market, Asher’s Chocolates, and Isgro Pastries. The store will also carry health and beauty, personal and family care products, natural and organic items, pet food and supplies, household essentials, and seasonal items.
“Expertly designed to meet the needs of urban dwellers, our Riverwalk store is the perfect blend of modern sophistication and surprise, and of course, pays homage to the city’s fantastic food scene,” said Bertram.