The new 24-hour Safeway grocery store opened up earlier this month at University Town Center in Hyattsville, giving residents yet another option.
The new 54,000-square-foot center is one of Safeway’s “lifestyle” stores and features a Starbucks coffee bar, a deli and a meats and seafood section, and even a pizza bar. Between the new Safeway and Whole Foods Market opening later this year at the new Riverdale Park Station, not to mention Yes! Organic Market and Giant.
The new grocery is part of a large, mixed-used project by commercial real estate developer Echo Realty, which recently announced MedStar Health and Town Center Wine & Spirits have signed leases to join its Gateway at UTC project. They join Safeway and other new retailers including Unleashed by Petco, Le’s Nails, and Phenix Salon Suites, according to Echo’s website.
The new Safeway only compounds the parking problem at the poorly-designed University Town Center, which was impossible to begin with. Access to Safeway’s limited and decidedly odd parking is only easy if you’re going west on East-West Highway. If you’re driving east, and making a left turn… well, good luck to you.