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A Safeway is slated to open Thursday in Olney, and will be the grocery chain’s only Maryland store to sell beer and wine.

The grocery’s opening has at least one local liquor store owner worried that Safeway could draw away some of his customers.

“We are a family-run business that has been here 25 years in April,” said Scott Yates, owner of Olney Beer and Fine Wine, which is located in the Olney Village Center, across Md. 108 from Safeway. “We live in Olney and we raise our kids in Olney. It’s kind of sad to see big businesses come in, but I understand that is today’s world. We are hoping people will continue to support us.”

The Safeway will open at 3333 Spartan Road, on the same site where a previous Safeway store was located. The old store closed last year and razed to make way for the new store.

The Safeway joins other grocers, including Giant, Harris Teeter and Shopper’s Food Warehouse, that are located in Olney’s town center.

Maryland law allows a grocer to sell beer and wine in one of its stores statewide. Safeway transferred its license from its Briggs Chaney store to Olney, Safeway spokesman Craig Muckle said.

“We knew we had other competition in Olney and wanted a way to differentiate ourselves by offering something that the other stores couldn’t offer,” he said. “We also thought it was an amenity that our customers would appreciate.”

The new 60,000 square-foot store is about 20,000 square feet larger than the original store, which was built in 1978.

It incorporates some of the concepts from Olney’s Master Plan, such as a “Main Street promenade” appearance, public spaces, enhanced landscaping, street lamps and planters, a bike rack, and a more pedestrian-friendly and attractive storefront.

It will include parking for 246 cars, some of which will be in a lot in front of the store and others in a rear parking garage.

Members of the Olney Town Center Advisory Committee worked with Safeway officials to ensure the project met guidelines established in the 2005 Olney Master Plan. Member Paula Kahla said the committee made several suggestions on issues, including the use of public space and signage.

“We felt that they were very amenable to hear our comments and take our advice,” she said.

Because more than 45,000 residents reside in the greater Olney area, the Olney Chamber of Commerce thinks the community can support the four groceries, said Virginia Mauk, executive director of the chamber.

Nina Moustafa of Olney said that she thinks having four groceries so close to each other is ridiculous.

Francesca Brown, also of Olney, said she thinks the four stores will create a competition that will benefit customers, adding the Safeway’s sale of beer and wine will provide her an incentive to shop at the store.

“It keeps you from having to go someplace else when you want to buy a bottle of wine to have with dinner,” she said.

Harris Teeter spokeswoman Danna Jones declined to comment on the opening of the Safeway, except to say Harris Teeter would remain focused on offering customers the best customer service and quality products at competitive prices.

Giant spokesman Jamie Miller said the Olney Giant plans to continue its 75-year tradition of providing quality, value and service to its customers.

Steve Sylven, Shopper’s Food Warehouse spokesman, said the store strives to provide a great shopping experience for its customers by focusing on good pricing, customer service and quality products.

thogan@gazette.net