Safeway, Kensington MD, circa 1949. This store was replaced in 1964 with an arch-roofed Marina prototype store, which was demolished last year to construct a third store at the same site. Obviously, some 1940s employee of Safeway’s real estate department made a really good call on this one.
One of my earliest memories is shopping at this Safeway with my mother when I was 4 years old. It had wooden shelves, a low ceiling and the floor was tilted. This was the second of 4 times this Safeway in Kensington, Maryland was rebuilt. The first one was on Howard Avenue nearby at what is now called Antique Row. Here is an image of it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kensingtonfile/5115408844/
The photo you posted is the second Safeway. Here is another image of the second Kensington, Maryland Safeway:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kensingtonfile/5115408738/in/photostream/
A gas station is at that location now which was the scene of one of the John Allen Muhammad Beltway sniper attacks (October 3, 2002, 9:58 AM).
The third Kensington, Maryland Safeway (arched roof) was built down the hill from the second one, a rock’s throw away.
The fourth one was moved on the same lot but now backing Armory Avenue, slightly closer to the first one.