Dive Brief:
- Wegmans opened its much-anticipated store in West Cary, North Carolina, on Wednesday, according to local news reports. The 103,000-square-foot store is the grocer's second location in the Tar Heel State following its debut in Raleigh, North Carolina, last fall.
- The retailer has installed a live view of its storefront, allowing customers to see the line outside the store in real time before visiting.
- The West Cary store will be kept at a maximum capacity of 50%, or 1,000 people, including employees. Wegmans placed orange cones and ground markings outside the store to promote social distancing in line, which the grocer promoted as a setup akin to an amusement park.
Dive Insight:
According to a detailed report from the local WRAL.com Smart Shopper, Wegmans' West Cary store features many of the dining options and other amenities that have made the retailer a customer favorite. The location, which was originally slated for a soft opening before Wegmans reversed course as public excitement built, had music playing Wednesday and employees lined up to greet shoppers as they entered.
The store features several dining options, including The Burger Bar, a kid-friendly, casual restaurant with burgers, sandwiches, milkshakes, frozen custard, beer and wine. There's also a Market Cafe, which has prepacked meals to go, sushi, pizza, subs and coffee. The grocer also has a create-your-own poke bowl station where ingredients are handled by employees.
Many of the store's customizable meal stations are full-service. The store has seating space as well, and its typically self-service olive bar is now staffed by employees.
The seafood department offers whole fish that are delivered daily from Wanchese, on Roanoke Island in North Carolina. Wegmans will also steam fresh shellfish including lobster, crab, shrimp, clams and mussels for customers at no additional cost.
The store's produce department includes 800 items, nearly half of which are organic. The section offers many locally grown, in-season selections that are picked daily and delivered to the store.
Other notable departments in the new store include a bakery, which features artisan-style bread and rolls, fresh-baked cookie shop, breakfast pastries, decorated cakes, cupcakes, specialty chocolates, donuts, muffins and desserts. Customers can find an array of meats and cheeses, some of which are imported, in the store's deli and charcuterie section. Its cheese shop also has a large variety of artisan and specialty cheeses that are produced in the U.S. or imported.
The beer and wine department has approximately 2,000 wines and 900 varieties of domestic, craft and imported beers. Customers can also create their own six-packs.
In addition to the West Cary store, Wegmans is set to open two other locations this year — one in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and another in Harrison, New York. The grocer originally planned to open its Harrison location in April, but delayed it after a COVID-19 outbreak hit the region, and said it would open its Tysons Corner store this fall. Opening dates for the two locations have not been announced.
