Giant's Heirloom Market to open more Philly stores

Giant opened its first Heirloom Market in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia less than two weeks ago, and according to the company, three more city locations will soon follow.

An Heirloom Market store is scheduled to open this summer in University City, followed by stores in Northern Liberties and Queen Village.

Giant's small, urban format features grab-and-go technology for payment, as well as online pickup and delivery options.

The size of the Graduate Hospital store is approximately 9,500 SF, and it is expected that the new locations will be similar.

Ahold suspends Bfresh small format concept

Published reports last month stated that Ahold Delhaize, the parent company for Giant, Food Lion and Stop & Shop, is suspending its small-format Bfresh brand and will not open Bfresh stores in Philadelphia, as previously announced. The company still plans to make use of the spaces it has leased, though.

In addition, Ahold's 3,700 SF Everything Fresh grocery store on Walnut Street in Center City has closed.

Last year the company announced that it would open Bfresh stores at Second and South Streets, Bainbridge Street and University City.

Fresh Grocer, UPenn in litigation over Acme deal in University City

The Philadelphia Business Journal reported last week that Acme signed a lease with the University of Pennsylvania for a 34,500 square foot store on Walnut Street in University City. However, Fresh Grocer currently operates a store there and doesn't plan to leave, even though Penn notified them that their lease expired on March 31.

Penn's claim that Fresh Grocer missed the deadline to renew its lease is disputed by Wakefern, the cooperative that Fresh Grocer is a member of. Attorneys are now heavily involved...