GIANT | Frazer, PA

 

225 Lancaster Ave

Welcome to the Frazer GIANT!

The store we're seeing today has quite a lot of history, and some of it can be seen right inside! Fiore's Thriftway first opened here in 1980, lasting 20 years before selling their store to Clemens Markets, another family-owned chain, in May 2000. Their Frazer location was one of 13 to be acquired by GIANT and took on that name in 2006. After their New Britain store was remodeled last year, this is now the only remaining GIANT that retains the decor from Clemens, and a remodel is surely soon. Let's head inside!

This store has only one set of entrance doors and no vestibule, so specialty cheese and meal ideas confront us as we head inside, with the fresh delicatessen behind it as the island continues. I'm not very familiar with Clemens decor, but I would imagine this was installed in 2000 when Clemens moved in, or soon after. Obviously there's only a six year window for it to have been installed.

A purple bakery is across from the deli. A lot of GIANT stores have fresh pretzel braids from the Philly Pretzel Factory in the bakery, and I've made it a tradition to always get one when I stop at a GIANT, but sadly this store didn't have them. Maybe they'll add it in the remodel.

Mother Nature's Garden, sans that signage, is in the back right corner of the store.

Across from produce and behind the deli island are three aisles of health and beauty. The aisle markers in this store are from GIANT and newer than the rest of the decor, but even they are quite old and are probably from 2006.

Packaged meats are on the back wall, with the seafood and meat counter following it.

A look down aisle 7, with the normal aisle markers from GIANT's Fun House decor.

Frozen foods are in aisle 10. The flooring is definitely the worst part of this store. I'm not sure what's worse: the condition of it or the colors. And those cases definitely date back to Clemens... if not Thriftway. The category stickers on the freezer doors are very new.

Dairy is in the last aisle, and thankfully the milk isn't as old as those category markers are.

Verizon used to operate inside the store, but they have moved to their own store elsewhere in the shopping center. I don't know what GIANT plans on doing with this space, but they do have a permit for beer and wine sales taped to the window.

And the very dated front end as we head out of the store.

Other Images of Interest

Street View Images

2019

Comparing this to my photo of the exterior in the beginning of the post, GIANT has definitely made improvements to the facade.

2015

Not looking as bad here. At least at this time it was still a GIANT and not a G ANT.

Nearby competition

1.8 miles away: Wegmans of Malvern

Next week, we'll be seeing the Malvern Wegmans, located just about two miles down Lancaster Avenue.

3.6 miles away: Acme of Paoli

The Paoli Acme is virtually identical to Folsom, which opened only one day after this store did. They've also always had the same decor, starting with Chalkboard Market, then moving on to PF&H 1.0, and now with Quality Built.

Thanks for taking this tour with me! I'm glad that I was able to take these photos before the store was remodeled, but it is definitely needed and I'm sure it will look much better with the new decor. Next week, we're headed to a nearby Wegmans. Have a great Memorial Day weekend! The Retail Connection: For today's table.