Regional chains.
Here in Savannah, Publix is the best, but I live 2 blocks from the worst Kroger I have ever seen. The store is usually dirty, the produce leaves MUCH to be desired, and the service is pathetic. Lines are also shorter at the DMV! We refer to it as the "Kroghetto."
I grew up in Manassas, VA and Giant was the best supermarket around. Shoppers' Food Warehouse is a close second, though. Magruder's left Manassas maybe 15 years ago, but for all its shortcomings, they had the best meats in town. I worked for 4 years at the last Weis in Virginia, and even managed the dairy department my last summer there, which was eventually killed by Food Lions spreading like viruses. Weis and Food Lions are bargain-basement stores. Fine for dry goods and paper products, but you can do so much better for meats, produce, and dairy.
Out of Richmond, VA is Ukrops. They are as far north as Fredericksburg and aside from being uber-Christian (I'm Jewish and I prefer a more neutral environment) Ukrops has the cleanest stores I have ever seen, and the customer service is tops too. There is a Wegman's in Fairfax, VA which is also very very nice.
Yes, I am a grocery-snob,
Dave