The new stores are big... some are multiple floors! They have curbside pickup and delivery, they have food courts (aka Market Cafe), restaurants, pubs, and there is an open market like feel to the veggie, bakery, meat, and seafood departments...

I believe the Wegman's in Midlothian just south of Richmond, VA has a movie theatre and a bowling alley.

(10-07-2019 07:21 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  I believe the Wegman's in Midlothian just south of Richmond, VA has a movie theatre and a bowling alley.

I would mock, but they're putting that in bass pros these days.

(10-07-2019 07:21 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  I believe the Wegman's in Midlothian just south of Richmond, VA has a movie theatre and a bowling alley.

LOL, that would be a first. Even the stores in Rochester, where Wegmans is headquartered doesnt have that.

Some place to drop off the kids while you do shopping.

If Wegman's come into a town: they don't look to control a market (like Kroger, HEB, Publix)

They just want to grab a large share of the affluent shoppers within a Metro. They actually have folks driving over an hour to shop their stores.

My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

(10-07-2019 11:33 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

Wegman's meat comparable to Whole Foods?

(10-10-2019 03:41 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:33 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

Wegman's meat comparable to Whole Foods?

I can't say. If we have Whole Foods in Richmond, I've never been to one.

I don't shop Whole Foods either, all I know is Wegman's is good to great in all departments. The rub against Wegmans is they push their store brand items over comparable national brands. They support local farmers with buying produce and fruits from them when available.

Wegmans isn't the store you run into to buy just milk an bread: that is Food Lion, Winn Dixie, mom n pop.

(10-14-2019 02:26 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 03:41 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:33 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

Wegman's meat comparable to Whole Foods?

I can't say. If we have Whole Foods in Richmond, I've never been to one.

You owe it to yourself to try the Whole Foods bakery. Everything is baked from natural ingredients, and it just tastes better.

(10-14-2019 09:43 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-14-2019 02:26 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 03:41 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:33 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

Wegman's meat comparable to Whole Foods?

I can't say. If we have Whole Foods in Richmond, I've never been to one.

You owe it to yourself to try the Whole Foods bakery. Everything is baked from natural ingredients, and it just tastes better.

I just checked and there is a Whole Foods way out in the West End 30 minutes from my house. Then one in Charlottesville 1 hour away, one in VA Beach 2 1/2 hours away, and one in Northern VA 2 hours away. I figured Whole Foods had been around long enough that they'd have more than 1 in each market. Maybe they don't need more than one because they have people willing to drive to get to their stores.

I'll have to try that Bakery next time I'm out that way. See what all the hub bub is about.

(10-14-2019 07:06 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  I don't shop Whole Foods either, all I know is Wegman's is good to great in all departments. The rub against Wegmans is they push their store brand items over comparable national brands. They support local farmers with buying produce and fruits from them when available.

Wegmans isn't the store you run into to buy just milk an bread: that is Food Lion, Winn Dixie, mom n pop.

Food Lion around here has been pushed out to the rural fringes. You only see Food Lions now in exurbs where there is no competition.

Winn Dixie doesn't exist in my foot print anymore even though it did when I was growing up. It has been replaced by Bi-Lo. Both are part of Southeastern Grocers. Bi-Lo has already filed Chapter 11 once in the last decade. Aside from some prime location can't-fail stores, Bi-Lo is declining and on the way out and with it much of the rest of SE Grocers.

The place around here I see the most fervent quick shopping is hands down Aldi. Aldi is always packed (recently expanded into the area) but you never see people coming out with buggys ... just a few bags.

https://www.nunesmagician.com/2019/10/14...-food-lion

The comments are pretty funny

I don't know what's going on within a mile of my house but in the last 2 years, we've added an Aldi, a Lidl and now a Publix. On top of a long standing Kroger. Publix just started in the area a year or so ago but they are coming on strong. There's already one 5 miles from my house now there's this one less than a mile away. Wegman's is 2-3 miles away and does good business and is right across the street from a Super Walmart and Sam's club. There's also a Costco across from Lidl, a few 100 feet from Aldi.

I appreciate all the grocery options but something's got to give. Lidl was busy the first month or so and I don't know if it still is but Aldi has never had traffic. They make an excellent Spinach/Artichoke dip for $3 and we stop in when we need 1 or 2 items and it's very quick. In and out in less than 5 minutes but I would think with their lower prices that they should be doing tons more business than Kroger not always without a wait at the register. So, I think Aldi will be a casualty of the grocery store wars.

(10-14-2019 09:43 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(10-14-2019 02:26 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 03:41 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  

(10-07-2019 11:33 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  My only Wegman's story was that I needed to get some steaks for father's day on father's day because I put it off too long. I went to Kroger and they had 1 sorry looking rib eye left which someone in front of me bought, no tenderloins, no T-bones, and no NY strip. So, I went to Wegman's and they had a full selection of choice meats. They were more expensive like $17.95 lb for rib eyes but they had a buy 3 get one free deal. So the price came out about even.

They were excellent. We have also bought our Thanksgiving dinner packages at Wegman's. I can see why they're so popular but Kroger is at least 30% or more, cheaper on common items and 1/4 mile from my house. So we go there.

Wegman's meat comparable to Whole Foods?

I can't say. If we have Whole Foods in Richmond, I've never been to one.

You owe it to yourself to try the Whole Foods bakery. Everything is baked from natural ingredients, and it just tastes better.

Better than the Publix bakery?

(10-14-2019 08:18 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  https://www.nunesmagician.com/2019/10/14...-food-lion

The comments are pretty funny

Krispy Kreme was once a very strong brand of chain donuts in Tallahassee while DD seemed to be barely hanging on, that was 20 years ago.

DD has come back strong especially the last 3 or 4 years where they have opened up about 6 new stores. Probably about 10 locations here. I never could understand how a donut chain could make it, until it dawned on me that it is really mostly about the coffee.

(10-15-2019 06:25 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  

(10-14-2019 08:18 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  https://www.nunesmagician.com/2019/10/14...-food-lion

The comments are pretty funny

Krispy Kreme was once a very strong brand of chain donuts in Tallahassee while DD seemed to be barely hanging on, that was 20 years ago.

DD has come back strong especially the last 3 or 4 years where they have opened up about 6 new stores. Probably about 10 locations here. I never could understand how a donut chain could make it, until it dawned on me that it is really mostly about the coffee.

This is amazing to me because Krispy Kreme is 10 times better than Dunkin. Yet there are dozens and dozens of Dunkins in my neck of the woods in upstate NY and not a single Krispy Kremes. They all went bellyup about 10 years ago. The closest KK is near the NYS border in Penn that we stop by whenever we come back from Florida and get 4 dozens for friends and relatives

I’m partial to Publix bakery doughnuts. They are bigger and only cost $.80 a piece or less if you buy in bulk vs KK or DD that hover in .99-1.19 range. The quality to me is comparable, though Publix selection is a bit smaller.

I go through a donut phase now and then. I think I stopped for donuts 3x in the last week, but before then I don’t think I stopped once in 3 months.

(10-15-2019 08:57 AM)Garrettabc Wrote:  I’m partial to Publix bakery doughnuts. They are bigger and only cost $.80 a piece or less if you buy in bulk vs KK or DD that hover in .99-1.19 range. The quality to me is comparable, though Publix selection is a bit smaller.

I go through a donut phase now and then. I think I stopped for donuts 3x in the last week, but before then I don’t think I stopped once in 3 months.

Publix bakery is not bad. I like them. But Wegmans is just better. Personally, there are a couple of local donut shops that I prefer over Wegmans. One is called Donuts Delight, which is also a cafe and Ridge Donuts. There is a local donut chain in Buffalo called Paulas that is also very, very good.