New supermarket opens in Northwest Philadelphia [gallery]

After a planning process featuring a brief bit of neighborhood debate, a new Bottom Dollar supermarket officially opened its doors for business on Thursday morning.

The event featured bags of free groceries for the first 200 shoppers and a chance to meet retired Philadelphia Eagles great Bill Bergey at the supermarket, located where Germantown and Mt. Airy essentially meet at Chew Avenue and Washington Lane.

Also on hand were state Rep. Steven Kinsey and Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass, both of whom spoke at the ribbon-cutting event.

By the numbers

According to Supermarket News, the location brings Bottom Dollar’s tally in the Philadelphia region to 43 stores.

“There has been a great deal of anticipation for the openings of the Germantown and Ambler stores,” said Bottom Dollar Food President Meg Ham in a statement on the company’s website.

As part of the opening event, Bottom Dollar Food donated $1,000 to the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry, according to the statement, which noted that the location brought 55 jobs to the community.

Coming next month to the area is a groundbreaking event for the long-awaited Wissahickon Charter School expansion.