Photos provided by the Virginian-Pilot.
Wards Corner Giant Open Air Market opened in 1963. Photo provided by the Virginian-Pilot.
In 1963 Giant Open Air opened its new Wards Corner mercantile center. The 80,00 foot store is the largest retail food store under one roof – at least in the south – and it can boast among many innovations the largest individual departments in several categories. Boasting 450 employees, the supermarket features a pancake shop, doughnut center and pizza ovens for in store consumption or takeout orders. A spacious bakery with eating facilities, largest in the chain, with charcoal cooked steaks, seafood and BBQ.
A candle shop, garden shop, greeting cards, household accessories, gift shops, hardware and a self-service Laundromat round out the shoppers experience in this state of the art shopping center.
The store was constructed at a cost of $2 million and features 600 customer parking spaces. The store will remain open 24-hours a day. Pilot staff photo by Charlie Meads.
Giant Open Air was located where the Farm Fresh is today.
Posted by Martin Thomas Jr. 
Wards Corner Now - Wards Corner, Norfolk, Virginia 