SALISBURY TWP., Pa. — The Giant food story built in the space of the former Bon Ton store at South Mall will open Nov. 21, the chain announced Thursday.
The new 68,000-square-foot store and on-site fuel station at 3300 Lehigh St. will open at 8 a.m. that day and afterward operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, the chain said in a release.
The store will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with team members and community leaders.
“Just in time for the holiday season, my team and I are excited to welcome our neighbors inside and show them what we’ve been working on.”Giant store Manager Mike Ramos, in a release
The first 200 customers will receive a Giant reusable shopping bag filled with product samples and other grand opening savings.
The new store will replace the Giant at 3015 W. Emaus Ave., which will close at 6 p.m. Nov. 20, the release said.
Mike Ramos, an 18-year grocery veteran, will continue serving as store manager, according to the release.
“Just in time for the holiday season, my team and I are excited to welcome our neighbors inside and show them what we’ve been working on,” Ramos said in the release.
“Customers will also see many familiar team members from the West Emmaus Avenue store as well as some new faces, as we added more than 75 new full- and part-time jobs to the store.”
Bigger, improved store
Giant Company President John Ruane said the new store is bigger — according to Lehigh County parcel data, the Giant on Emaus Avenue has 50,856 square feet.
“At Giant, exceeding the expectations of our loyal customers is at the forefront of everything we do, and it starts with accommodating their changing grocery needs.”Giant Company President John Ruane
The new store also will "offers a wider product assortment that enhances the overall shopping experience for our customers, while continuing to showcase what we’re known for — delivering value, freshness and kindness,” Ruane said.
“At Giant, exceeding the expectations of our loyal customers is at the forefront of everything we do, and it starts with accommodating their changing grocery needs,” Ruane said.
The release said customers at the Salisbury Township store will find "wider product assortment across the store."
That includes "a large, market-feel produce department with dedicated space for organics, meat and seafood, service deli with pre-sliced meats and cheeses," it said.
Also, "dairy, bakery, full-service floral, a large beer and wine area and in-store pharmacy," it said.
The Salisbury Township store also will feature "a hot food bar which includes smoked and barbeque meats, pre-pack salad offerings in the deli, specialty cheese case and an in-store sushi chef."
The on-site fuel station also will be larger, with 10 fuel positions — the Emaus Avenue store had six — and double the amount of Giant parking spaces "for easy store pick-up of a customer’s online grocery order."
Crews in January begandemolition of the former Bon Ton store.
