(Soon to be former) Shoppers - Woodbridge, VA

Second one by me! If you got the hint right, you've got it. Even if you lost, I invite all for the tale of the wooden bridge to the food. Bad puns aside...

Woodbridge, VA (Store #2361)

Store Info

• Location: 14000 Shoppers Best Way, Woodbridge, VA 22192
• Opened: ca. 1994
• Closing: Feburary 2016
• Remodeled: Yes (2006)
• Interior packages: Shoppers Club theme, Mid-2000s theme (with "SFW" version of the current logo) (current)
• Features: Pharmacy, Shoppers Café, Deli, Seafood, Bakery/Colossal Donuts, International, Health & Beauty, Beer & Wine

As mentioned in a previous post, Shoppers came to Woodbridge in the late 1980s with a location along Smoketown Road. With the Smoketown Stations development as a counterpart to burgeoning Potomac Mills Mall, Shoppers relocated to a bigger store with more features. One of the first Shoppers Club stores, this store brought in brand-new groundbreaking components to this chain, such as Shoppers Café coupled with an expanded inventory of prepared foods, club paks, and other expansions in general. You probably knew that by now, though.

As usual, this store withstood more growth around and recieved a major remodel in 2006 once SuperValu's changes took effect. A new facade was installed to replace the original overhanging "lattice" on the exterior, with new signage. Inside, space was made for vastly expanded international and health & beauty sections near the pharmacy. Other missions were accomplished with a more upscale refresh and departments designed to cater to "specialty", while evoking classic Shoppers still.

I finally decided to visit this store in late 2014, however I wasn't that impressed with what I saw. By the time I made a return in January 2016, just a week before the big announcement, they had cleaned up some of the grime. Today, we'll go take a virtual walkthrough, with shelves still full.

 In the right-hand vestibule, the store fire alarm map is displayed. This was most likely updated sometime in the store's lifetime.

No views of the perishables area, but looking here on the "Fresh Cuts" meat area. This corridor's shape resembles that of a classic Shoppers Food Warehouse store. My good Flickr friend MJHale also took a picture of the "Smart Shoppers Shop Shoppers" slogan to the right.

The international section is pictured here. As I said, this strongly resembles the Dumfries store, however this takes up 4 whole aisles! So much for the smaller end. Quite impressive indeed.

 

Bordering the meat corridor, some coolers for the "World Marketplace" international section, selling international goods.

Focusing on the store's "center aisle" (a feature of some Shoppers), some more aisles and a baby products section are showcased.

Backtracking to near the pharmacy, the product signs have been replaced, and the large overhead sign removed. The bank also closed to the left. Otherwise, this is a nice typical health & beauty section.

From my original visit, the glorious front end is pictured. One thing to note is that some of the policy signs have been removed, which indicated a remodel (to my perceptions). However, this package has stayed until the end.

Back to the "now", the corner of the front end is pictured with an emergency exit. The "Thank you for shopping Shoppers Food & Pharmacy" sign had been enlarged in this package.

Leaving the store, here are two pictures from my maiden voyage. Note that the cart corrals were only recently replaced from a faded plastic design.

On January 20, 2016, Shoppers sadly announced the closure of this store in preparation for a future Hobby Lobby outlet. This move was made due to the increase of competition by local neighbors Walmart and Wegmans over the past several years. What's strange is that this was 10 days after my visit, and just before Snowzilla 2016! Shoppers must have planned this well.

Anyways, as we bid farewell to the store in the coming days, you can always look back at this store's 20+ year legacy as a cornerstone grocer in the Woodbridge area. The memory lives on here and as always, sound off!

BatteryMill out. :)