do you live within a 10 minute walk of a grocery store? (Annandale: city hall, transporting)

[brooklynborndad]

In the urban planning forum someone suggested that living walking distance to a grocery store is rare in the US, at least outside of cities with the density of NYC.

While I suspect the vast majority of Americans live further than that from the nearest grocery store, I think its not all that uncommon to be within 10 minutes walk of one. I live in Annandale, which heaven knows is NOT a dense urban neighborhood, nor is it the best planned suburb. But I live 10 minutes walk from the safeway, and when my wife took our car to NY with her this for I guess it was almost 2 weeks, I had no trouble getting all the groceries I needed on foot. Annandale has a Safeway, 2 giants, an Hmart, a Blooms and (fading towards lake barcroft) a harris teeter, not to mention some smaller indie food shops (mostly ethnic). There may be a few parts of Annandale not within 10 minutes of grocery store (mainly the less dense north and northwest parts, I think) but much of it is.

Y'all live in many different parts of Northern virginia. Do you live within 10 minutes walk of a grocery? If many do, even here in such a "very suburban" place, I would find that interesting.

[Caladium]

If I walk fast, Bloom is 10 minutes away. If I'm strolling and looking at the sights, it probably takes 15 minutes. It's kind of a pretty walk, so unless it's chilly out I usually stroll.

[jillabean]

It takes me about 10 minutes to drive to the nearest grocery store in Centreville (a Giant) if there is medium traffic. I have no idea how long it would take me to walk it. It's not really practical for me to walk it though since I tend to shop once a week and have 4-5 bags of groceries (and I mean those big reusable ones, not the little plastic ones). If I lived close enough though, I could shop every couple of days. That would be nice (and the food would be fresher).

[South Jersey Styx]

We live in historic downtown Winchester so there's no supermarkets within a 10 min walk here (city was built before supermarkets were en vogue). However, a few blocks from my house, Dollar General carries the basics (i.e., sausage, milk, bread, etc.). But we have the post office, city hall, govt offices, several english pubs, thai, italian, chinese, sushi, jamaican, french, etc., coffee shops, wine shops, clothing, etc. and George Washington's outpost -- within a 10 min walk from our house.

We have also a corner store, like the kind you see in Philly and NYC neighborhoods, a few yards from our house. Can buy bread, milk, canned goods, water, drinks, chips, etc.

[HereinVA]

I live in Bristow and the nearest Grocery Store is a Safeway, about 1.5 miles from my house...I've walked there before when the weather is nice and I'm only picking up a couple light things. I think with traffic lights and all it took about 20 minutes to walk each way.

[yamota]

Not 10 minutes, maybe 15-20. I usually just buy enough groceries to fill my backpack. If I buy ground beef I have to walk home faster than usual, especially in the summer.

[HokieFan]

Unfortunately, no. The nearest store is 2 miles from my house and includes a steep hill each way.

[cdmurphy]

Yep - I'm about a 10 minute walk to Harris Teeter in the Brambleton Town Center, but more like 15-20 minutes if I'm dragging a wagon full of toddlers.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

Yep - I'm about a 10 minute walk to Harris Teeter in the Brambleton Town Center, but more like 15-20 minutes if I'm dragging a wagon full of toddlers.

How cute! We saw a dad with two little ones in a red cart out in Leesburg yesterday.

These responses regarding the transporting of groceries is also interesting. We have our cart from NYC (that everyone has). But most recently, since we partake downtown alot, we bought something like this:

Walmart.com: Trifecta Single-Speed Adult Folding Tricycle: Bikes & Riding Toys

Very handy for food but when we're working down at the coffee shop, it's great for carrying laptops, books, etc.

People in downtown Winchester love it! They smile and wave at us whenever we ride by!

[ibrad]

No groceries, but could probably make it to Wendy's in 10 minutes. Groceries would probably be 20 minutes, but I would have to dodge a lot of traffic on my walk, and no sidewalks most of the way. I would love to be able to walk to more "stuff."