Reader comments on today's column:

On a recent trip to the York Road Plaza Giant, I searched in vain for ilm.  My first thought was that they had once again rearranged the stock,  just to keep us frustrated and confused.  When I asked, I was informed that they were not purchasing new film because room had to be made for the renovation!!!  This was the first I'd heard about a renovation, and when I said I did not think film took up that much space, I was greeted by a blank stare.  Perhaps this is your answer to the pizza dough disappearance!  What next?           

After reading you comments about Giant and the multi-million dollar makeovers, I thought you would be interested in a grocery Store trend that is even more a waste of money. Safeway had been renovating my local store for over a month, I assume this is happening at some other stores nation-wide. What they are doing is ripping up large sections of the white floors and replacing with dark wood and - this is the worst - painting the white ceiling brown (think coffee with milk pastel brown) and putting in limited focus lights (as in much less light). The end effect is to render the store with a power failure look. It is dark dark dark. I find it very uncomfortable and difficult to see ahead to what I want. Why do they think the dungeon look will make customers all excited and buy more? I start to think of the "Saw" movies and despair - what do I need to do to survive? Add that they moved all the products around, and you have such a wonderful experience. My Safeway store is located in Catonsville at Route 40 and Ingleside.

You are so right about Giant, especially the sausage.  Even Wegman's (yes, Wegman's) sells Polish kielbasa made by Ostrowski's of Bank Street. I too would like to see Roma's (or Ostrowski's) at Giant. Both companies make Italian and Polish.  Mars carries Roma's.

Man oh man did you hit the nail on the head with Sunday's articles.  On the majority of them I'd almost swear you were reading my mind.  I especially liked the  one about Giant Food.  I have refused to use the self-serve checkout lines in any store not just Giant and it bugs me to no end how the public can be so blind to realize they are putting people out of work and lining the owners pockets.  Remember when we used to get that good service at the service station when we got gas.  How many of those stations used to hire high school students and provide part-time jobs for them.  Ah alas and alack times have changed and unfortunately not for the better.  Thanks again for an eye-opening column.

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So.....a squirrel attacked your pumpkin, eh?  Did you
record the dastardly deed in a photo?  If so, my friend Gregg Bassett
would be very interested.  He prints photos like that.  Gregg runs the
internationally known website http://www.thesquirrelloversclub.com
You should just see his cool newsletter.  I've been a member for many
years now, since I saw a fluff piece on NBC news about him.  I've loved
squirrels ever since the first one took my peanuts.  But.........this
takes the suet cake..........there's a crazy gal who looks like a hooker
(well, really like Dolly Parton) who owns "Sugar Bush" squirrel.  The
outlandish outfits she dresses him up in are really, really crazy and
wild (like dressing him as the Pope).  To look at her photos, go to
http://sugarbushsquirrel.com/

You're right about Giant.  Our local Giant, the
Flagship at Montrose Crossing in Rockville, is
undergoing the "improvements."  Every trip to it is a
scavenger hunt.  I've seen customers leave out of
frustration.  The parking lot at rush hour in the past
would be very busy but over the last year we have
noticed a decline and we don't buy as much at the
store as we once did. On the last trip we found the store had installed a
Starbuck! There's already a Starbuck in the same
center adjacent to a Barnes and Noble.  I wonder if
Giant carries insurance to cover customers if they get
burned by spilled hot coffee (I'm wary of hot coffee
since getting burned at a coffee pot at a breakfast
buffet at a motel).  Other "improvements" include an
aisle of DVDs and an aisle of toys.  Food products
appear to be getting reduced.

Giant continues to have an identity problem.  The
local store is in the midst of apartment/condo
buildings typically with 1-2 people, a few with more
along with single family detached smaller homes.  Many
of the people in the area are retirees or older
workers.  The store wants to cater to the Latinos
moving to the area so now it carries huge 25-50 lbs.
of rice and other so-called international groceries.
Small households can't get smaller sizes.  On the last
visit we along with an older couple were looking for
vegetable oil.  The last one we had bought at Giant
was 16oz. The smallest we found this time was 24oz.
and most were much larger.  In addition, frequently
items are out of stock or at least not on the shelves.

Despite Giant's latest TV commercials, the prices are
still too high.  Bloom, the so-called upscale store of
Food Lion, had Wonder White Whole Grain on sale for
$1.79; the "sale" price at Giant, $2.19.  Rarely are
the sale prices lower than the neighboring stores'
sale/regular price.  Giant keeps saying that it has to
compete with Wal-Mart.  That's a joke since in
Montgomery County we have ONE Wal-Mart in the entire
county.  Behind the Flagship is a new Target which
keeps expanding its grocery line.  Target's prices are
in line with Shoppers and Wal-Mart.  The prices at
Bloom are also cheaper than Giant. 

Bloom and Shoppers "specialize" in food and regular
grocery items.  Giant complains about competing with
Wal-Mart but then carries all sorts of non-grocery
items carried by the discounters.  In addition, it
competes with our local florists by selling mulch,
flowers, plants, etc. 

Perhaps if Giant would return to the grocery business
and add service and truly lower prices it might find
its business improved.  Gimmicks won't work.

I enjoy your column.  I buy the Sunday Sun to keep up
with Maryland news.