Southwest residents want more room on the table for fresh produce

Waterfront residents are frustrated by the lack of grocery stores in their neighborhood, and they are choosing to leave the area to shop rather than face shortages and crowds at Southwest’s sole supermarket.

But a remedy for their concerns is expected next year. The D.C.-based supermarket chain Streets Market announced in August that it will open a location at The Wharf in 2026.

For now, though, Safeway, which sits steps away from the Waterfront Metro Station, continues to be the only supermarket in Southwest, serving over 3,000 people. Some residents prefer to travel a mile to shop at Navy Yard grocery stores like Harris Teeter and Whole Foods rather than face the crowded aisles, empty shelves and a potential lack of produce at their local Safeway.

Southwest produce

The Safeway is located in the center of Southwest at 1100 Fourth St. SW. The grocery store sells fresh fruits and vegetables, boxed and canned goods, and features a hot bar so residents can prepare meals quickly while shopping.

Malachi Hansen, assistant store director for Safeway, said problems can arise because it is the sole chain grocery store in the Southwest. He said it is unfortunate that residents are faced with the inconveniences of their location.

“We will continue to be an option,” Hansen said. “Even though we are the only option.”

Safeway will continue to provide an abundance of food to Southwest residents, even if some residents choose to shop at further grocery stores, he said.

Hansen, a Southwest resident himself, said the area needs more shops to provide customers with options.

“A little more availability,” Hansen said. “More places to allow customers to shop at, providing them with affordable groceries.”

Friendly Food Market sits at 1399 Half St. SW, just one block from Nationals Park in the eastern portion of the Southwest Waterfront. Though the market does sell groceries, it mainly offers items like canned vegetables, prepackaged dry foods and frozen ready-to-eat meals.

Residents who live closer to the store don’t have the same fresh produce options as Safeway consumers do when shopping for convenience. They face a 12-minute walk to Safeway or a 17-minute walk to the nearest grocery store in Navy Yard.

The Southwest Business Improvement District holds the weekly Farmers Market SW on Saturday mornings at the 425 M St. SW lot from Spring through Fall. The market offers fresh locally grown food by providing residents with pasture meats, local produce and eggs.

The market also creates a safe space for residents browsing produce by providing hot meals, activities and live music.

The market’s final day of the season, Dec. 20, will leave residents without a secondary source of fresh produce in Southwest until spring 2026.

We are thrilled to announce that #StreetsMarket is opening at #TheWharfDC in 2026!

Offering a wide selection of local, everyday practical goods, Streets Market offers fresh produce, groceries, flowers, prepared dishes, and more coming to 798 Maine Ave SW near @cvspharmacy. pic.twitter.com/nqr33CW5IH

— The Wharf (@TheWharfDC) August 6, 2025

Streets Market announced the 2026 arrival of a new location at 798 Maine Ave. SW. The store is expected to replace a closed Orangetheory Fitness next to a CVS Pharmacy.

The D.C. area-based grocery store chain first opened shops in 2014. Its stores sell fresh produce, meat, seafood and packaged meals. They also include a kitchen and bar.

The location can be reached in 11 minutes on foot or 8 minutes by the C55 bus from the Waterfront Metro Station.

Streets currently has eight locations in D.C. and three in Baltimore.

The supermarket chain didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Navy Yard’s availability

As they wait for Streets to open, many residents say they are frequenting Whole Foods and Harris Teeter in Navy Yard, further from their homes.

Whole Foods is located at 101 H St. SE, blocks away from the Navy Yard – Ballpark Metro Station. Harris Teeter sits at 401 M St. SE in central Navy Yard.

Residents who choose to skip the Waterfront Safeway travel about a mile, or 20 minutes on foot, to and from the Navy Yard grocery stores. Those who walk may end up lugging heavy grocery bags back across the quadrants.

Residents traveling to the grocery stores by Metrorail could ride the green line to the Navy Yard – Ballpark Metro Station, followed by a seven-minute walk. Residents can travel also via the five-minute C11 bus ride and an eight-minute walk.

What’s in the cart for SW residents?

Southwest resident David Moore said that shopping in Southwest is “a bit annoying.” Safeway serves too many people at a time, he said.

Residents may have to plan out their trips to the grocery store, aligning with stocking schedules, to avoid shopping among empty shelves, the longtime resident said.

“I mean, as soon as they put it out, it’s pretty much gone because there’s just not enough for everybody that lives here,” Moore said.

Moore visits Whole Foods and Harris Teeter located in Navy Yard, though he generally shops at Safeway because of its proximity. However, commuting from the Southeast grocery stores back home with bags of food has become an issue during the trips, he said.

“If I ride a bike, I can be there in six, seven minutes,” Moore said. “But if I got a bunch of bags, I’m walking. So, it’s about 20 minutes.”

Moore said plopping down another grocery store in the area could improve the shopping experience of residents, citing the planned construction of Streets Market in the neighborhood.

Sofia Abdirizak, an American University graduate student, said that she often does not have issues when choosing where to shop for groceries, living on the border of Waterfront and Navy Yard.

The Southwest resident told The Wash the cost of produce is her only concern when shopping in the area. Biweekly grocery store runs to Whole Foods or Harris Teeter can cost her more than $240 a month, she said.

“I mean, I’m not trying to go to Whole Foods every time,” Abdirizak said. “It’s expensive.”

Abdirizak said she shops at Navy Yard grocery stores by car for convenience, rarely visiting the Safeway in Southwest.

While driving to grocery stores is an advantage for her, scattered market locations may hinder residents who do not own cars, she said.

“It is a bit of a walk … if you don’t have a car or want to take the bus,” Abdirizak said. “I have a car, so it’s not too bad if I need to do big trips.”

Abdirizak said that another grocery store in Southwest would allow residents to have more choices when deciding where to shop. People in the surrounding neighborhoods would also benefit from an extra market, she said.

“I think one more grocery store, especially closer to Capitol Hill, would be helpful,” Abdirizak said. “Like maybe another Safeway or a Giant.”