The first one is in Darnestown, and others are planned for Maple Lawn in winter 2009 or early 2010, and for Locust Point in South Baltimore in 2010, a store official said.
"We built the store for the on-the-go shopper and the traditional shopper," said Jennifer Panetta, a spokeswoman for Harris Teeter. "If you're on the go, or you love to cook, we have all the options for you."
As customers grow increasingly health conscious, grocery stores are increasing their offerings of organic foods along with prepared items.
Earlier this month, Giant had grand re-openings for its stores in Columbia's Owen Brown village center, which is a few miles from Harris Teeter, and in the River Hill village center. Multimillion dollar improvements were made at the 60,000-square-foot Owen Brown store, which opened in 1978 and at the 63,000-square-foot Clarksville store, which opened in November 1997, according to Giant officials.
"Everyone is so time-starved that they are looking for convenient products that they can come in, pick up and take home and prepare for their families within 30 minutes," said Jamie Miller, a spokesman for Giant in Landover. "Competitive pressures are always a factor for any big decisions we make. But we're doing this in 100 stores in the next three years."
With the new Trader Joe's and a proposed two-story Wegmans planned in Columbia at Snowden River Parkway and McGaw Road, grocery competition is heating up.
"Over the years, there has been a lot of new competition and even old competition that's stepped up the game," Miller said. "It forces us to be that much more responsive to our customers. It's a competitive business and a competitive local market."
Roberto Dellaragione, manager at Trattoria E. Pizzeria in Kings Contrivance, is optimistic about what the new Harris Teeter will mean for his business.
"After the [Safeway] closed, we lost a lot of business," he said.
Lunch business that could bring in $1,200 dwindled to $500 with no anchor store, he said. But on a recent afternoon, the pizzeria was dotted with people in Harris Teeter shirts and other workers associated with the grocer's opening.
"I am optimistic," Dellaragione said. "I hope we will pick up for lunch and dinner. Otherwise, we can't afford to pay rent and the food costs, and electricity."
Pedro Bogran has owned The Kings Cobbler shoe repair franchise for a year and a half - never when the village had an anchor.
"As soon as they open, I know I am going to be very busy," he said. "I think it's going to increase by 100 percent once the store opens. Six months from when they open, I may have two guys to help me. It's going to be good."
Bogran is planning his strategy to boost business.
He says he will paint the inside of his store, add a key-making machine and institute a while-you-wait service for people who may want to drop off their shoes while they grocery shop.
"I'm happy," he said. "I know as soon as they open there, I'm going to be very hopping."
june.arney@baltsun.com
