Calverton Grocery Outlet Celebrates a Wonderful First Year!

Thomas and Sharon Procida, owners of Calverton Grocery Outlet, pose in front of the store the day the first “Coming Soon” sign went up.

Since COVID, the Beltsville and Calverton area has experienced a lot of change. Many locally owned small businesses have closed — Spicknalls, TJ’s, and Sierra Grill, to name a few. Then in 2022, we learned that the Giant in Calverton — a staple of the area for decades — would be closing and relocating to Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring. It was a major blow, as Beltsville and Calverton already had few grocery stores nearby. Suddenly, doing your weekly shopping meant traveling to Laurel, College Park, or Silver Spring.

Then in April 2024, Thomas Procida and his wife Sharon introduced themselves on the Beltsville News Facebook page. They were the new owners of Grocery Outlet, the store that would take over the former Giant location. Tom and Sharon made it clear from the start that they wanted to be part of the Calverton community. In their first post, they wrote: “We look forward to being part of the community!!! We look forward to meeting you all.”

There were plenty of questions — many residents hadn’t heard of Grocery Outlet before. The grand opening was set for July 11, 2024.

Tom and Sharon aren’t originally from Maryland. Tom, a native of Long Island, New York, has over 25 years of experience in retail and 10 years in hospitality. He’s lived and worked in cities across the U.S., including New York City, Miami, and Charlotte, as well as two years on the beautiful island of Bermuda — where he met and married Sharon.

Sharon, a native of Bermuda, has traveled extensively and lived in several U.S. states including New York, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. She brings with her three years of retail management experience, more than 20 years in office management, and a background as a trained nurse and midwife — having even delivered three of her four grandbabies.

When I asked why they chose to run a grocery store, they explained, “We've always felt held back by the corporate structure. Being an independent operator/owner has allowed us to put our own stamp on the business and create a very family-friendly atmosphere. We love the community we’re in and work with several organizations.”

As with any new business, there were challenges. According to Sharon, the biggest hurdle was name recognition — getting the word out about the value Grocery Outlet offers. But there were bright spots, too. “Our greatest experience has been being out and about in the community and having people recognize us and what we stand for,” Sharon said. “Also, being on a billboard — who would have thought!”

Grocery Outlet not only offers great prices and a warm, welcoming staff, but it also gives back to its customers. There were turkey giveaways at Thanksgiving, holiday contests like “Find the Elf on a Shelf” at Christmas (with gift card prizes for the first to find the elf), and the popular “Win What You Save” promotion. In that contest, customers drop their receipt in a box for a chance to win a gift card equal to their savings.

On social media, it’s clear that Tom and Sharon do more than just run a grocery store — they’re community supporters. In just one year, they’ve partnered with a wide range of local groups and non-profits, including:

·         The College Park Community Food Bank

·         The Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department

·         UpStage Artists

·         Prince George’s County Police Department

·         Kingdom Fellowship A.M.E. Church

·         The Rainbow Community Development Center

·         The Beltsville Lion’s Club

·         St. Joseph Regional Catholic School

·         Several local middle and high schools

They’ve quickly become key contributors to the Beltsville-Calverton community.

Calverton Grocery Outlet is located at 11615 Beltsville Drive, Beltsville, MD 20705. They are open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stop by and get a bargain!