Giant-Carlisle
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| Subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Carlisle, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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Key people
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Lizzie Morgan |
| Products | Grocery |
| Parent | Ahold Delhaize |
| Website | giantfoodstores.com |
Giant Food Stores, LLC is an American supermarket chain that operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia under the names of Giant and Martin's. Giant is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize. Giant Food Stores are often referred to as Giant-Carlisle to distinguish it from sister company Giant-Landover. A big difference between Giant of Landover and Giant of Carlisle is that the Landover Company is unionized while Giant of Carlisle is non union with the exception of stores in the Lewistown and Philadelphia areas of Pennsylvania.
Giant was founded in 1923, when David Javitch opened a small meat market in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Carlisle Meat Market, as it was known, began as a two-man butcher shop.
David Javitch, otherwise known as "D.J.", built his business on the premise of "the best product at the fairest price." He spent most of his hours in the store, and his children were raised there. His store prospered during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1936, Javitch decided to take a chance on a new business opportunity.
He purchased a store in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, which he named the Giant Shopping Food Center. It was a big change from the original Carlisle Meat Market in that it was a total grocery store. It was very modern and offered customers the opportunity to purchase their dry goods and perishables under one roof; a new concept at that time. The store was a great success, and soon a decision was made to expand the Carlisle store from a basic meat market into a full-fledged grocery store.
Prior to purchasing the Lewistown store, he purchased a store in Hagerstown, Maryland, that opened and closed within the same month. Though it was a short-lived and costly venture, it provided a learning experience to Javitch. In addition, his main store in Carlisle was destroyed by fire, and the Lewistown store was completely flooded on two separate occasions.
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