On last Monday’s rally in protest of Safeway’s upcoming closure on March 6, I heard much besides the volume of aggravated voices.
Amid shouts of “Save our Safeway!” I heard the cry to “make it better!” In between the chanting refrains were speeches about upcoming actions by local leaders and stories from local residents. The crowd standing outside on this cold President’s Day included some faithful patrons of the store who had fought hard to get it there in the first place, and kept fighting to keep it open when a Safeway closed ten years ago at Rhode Island and Florida Ave NE. Among the signs and banner were familiar faces, neighbors, hugs.
This neighborhood deserves better and knows it. Tambra Stevenson noted on this blog that the silver lining of this loss is an opportunity for something better. She visions a “true community center for wellness.” That sounds like a vision I can share – but I do not want to jump ahead so quickly that I miss what my neighbors are saying right now.
The undercurrent of what I heard – amidst the demand that Safeway either upgrade or get out – was a sense of abandonment. What happened to the renovations Safeway promised at the Edgewood site? Where has our money gone, neighbors ask? It’s going somewhere – as Safeway opens new stores and upgrades in other parts of DC. We want a Starbucks and laundromat in our Safeway too, neighbors declared. When you’ve been shopping at Safeway for forty years, as one resident claimed, it is more than the dismissal of a store; it’s also about dignity.
“It’s a community in there,” a protester told me, nodding to the doors behind us. And the community has organized. Led by Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr. of Ward 5 with support from councilmembers in other wards, ANC Commissioner Marshall Phillips, and the Edgewood Civic Association (ECA), the crew of resistance is gearing up to determine solid next steps.
Councilmember Thomas is has made it clear that if Safeway will not rise up to be the community partner we need, then he will work to find another business that can be. This includes meeting with Safeway management to ensure a departure that makes it feasible for another quality, affordable grocer to come in. Often when corporate grocery stores move out they write leases that prevent other grocery stores from that space for up to five years. The ECA insists that this not be the case – and they’re also asking Safeway to leave equipment in the current space for the next provider.
The rally presence will continue on Monday evenings at 6:00, starting tonight, Monday, February 22. A community meeting will be held on Thursday, February 25 at 7-9pm (635 Edgewood St. NE, Crawford Hall, 9th floor). This will be a platform for concerned residents to voice their needs and wants for the Safeway space. This is happening informally already as Edgewood neighbors talk on the street and organize for upcoming meetings.
Rally leaders encouraged folks to take action on the corporate level as well by contacting Safeway directly. Share feedback on the upcoming closure and ask Safeway to be a community responsible partner. Email donnamaxwell@safeway.com and craigmuckle@safeway.com or comment on Safeway’s website.
Annabeth Roeschley is a neighbor in the Edgewood community and local patron of Safeway. She does food and gardening work with the Washington Youth Garden.
