Harris Teeter Opens in Navy Yard With Craft Beer, Wall of Frozen Cakes

Navy Yard finally has a supermarket.

The Harris Teeter at 401 M St. SE opened Tuesday evening with a ribbon-cutting and a crowd eager to explore the bright store.

Offerings at the 50,000-square-foot market include a “make your own six-pack” selection of craft beers, a Starbucks, a wide selection of wines, heaps of organic and conventional produce, and a wall of frozen cakes.

Navy Yard resident Devon Jones said he and his mother, who uses a motorized wheelchair, were thrilled to get a grocery store close to home. They’re used to having to make a 20-minute trip to the Safeway near the Waterfront Metro station.

“Now we can just go across the street,” Jones, 25, said. “It makes a big difference.”

The store is crucial for Navy Yard as its population booms, Ward 6 City Councilman Tommy Wells said.

“This is one of the key amenities for any neighborhood to be successful,” he said about the store with a staff of 215.

Before Harris Teeter opened about 5:30 p.m., store director Tim Porch presented oversized checks of $5,000 each to Amidon-Bowen Elementary School and Jan’s Tutoring House, and thanked locals for their patience during construction.

Shoppers said the store’s prices seemed comparable to competitors’.