FROM SHOPPERS TODAY. RHONDA. SHAYNA, A FEW THINGS WORKED AGAINST WEGMANS AT THE MALL LOCATION. ACCORDING TO THE SHOPPERS, NO ONE WANTS TO REALLY BE IN MALL TRAFFIC. AND IF YOU’RE GOING BY YOUR LIST AND SAY YOU FORGET SOMETHING, HAVING GROCERIES SPREAD ACROSS TWO FLOORS MADE IT HARD TO NAVIGATE. WEGMANS AT THE NATICK MALL OPENED IN THE OLD JCPENNEY SPOT IN 2018. BUT IT’S CLOSING AT A STILL UNDETERMINED DATE LATER THIS SUMMER. DISAPPOINTING. SURPRISING, TOO. THERE’S ALWAYS A TON OF PEOPLE IN THERE. I GOT THE EMAIL ON THURSDAY AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH SHOPPERS THERE. NATICK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST WEGMANS AND THE FIRST TO OPEN AS A MULTI-LEVEL STORE IN A MAJOR MALL. IT ALWAYS LOOKED DOOMED TO ME. I MEAN, IT’S DEALING WITH MALL TRAFFIC. IT ALWAYS SEEMED A BIT OF A MISTAKE. THE COMPANY SAYS ITS NONTRADITIONAL LOCATION AND BUSINESS MODEL ISN’T WORKING AS PLANNED ON AN UNCONVENTIONAL LOCATION. IT WAS PERFECT. IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO NATICK MALL. IT’S IT APPEALED TO HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT USUALLY JUST GO TO NATICK TO SHOP. JUST TO BEGIN WITH. I SUSPECT MAYBE THEIR RENT GOT RAISED OR THAT’S THE REASON THAT THEY’RE NOT STAYING THERE. WEGMANS ASKS SHOPPERS TO CHECK THEIR E-COMMERCE OPERATION AND THE OTHER FIVE GREATER BOSTON AREA STORES. WEGMANS TELLS US THERE WILL NOT BE ANY LAYOFFS IN EVERY NATICK EMPLOYEE WILL BE OFFERED A POSITION AT OTHER WEGMANS LOCATIONS ARE THEY CLOSING? YEAH. REALLY? SO I DON’T KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE ARE USED TO GO TO WEGMANS AND WE REALLY LIKE THE STORE. SO IT IT WILL BE SAD. EDGAR DURKEE, THE FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF CONSUMER WORLD.ORG SAYS HE SHOPPED HERE WHEN IT FIRST OPENED AND HE NOTICED SOME REAL LOW PRICES AND OVER THE
Wegmans to close its non-traditional mall grocery store at Natick Mall
Wegmans announced Thursday its plans to close their Natick, Massachusetts grocery store later this summer, with an exact date to be determined. "Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work," Brien MacKendrick, human resources director, for Wegmans New England division said in a written statement. "Making these decisions is never easy. However, we do it for the long-term benefit of our people, our customers, and our communities."Wegmans said it eyed Natick as an ideal location for a grocery store as far back as 2009, but couldn’t find a site that met its criteria until the Natick Mall location became available. What it looks like inside Wegman's grocery store inside of a mallThe company's Natick store opened in 2018 and was Wegmans’ first multi-level store inside of a mall. At 134,000 square feet, the company said it was one of its largest locations.The Rochester, New York-based store said store employees have been notified throughout the day. The 365 employees at the Natick store, which includes 142 full-time positions, will be offered positions at other Wegmans locations in the greater Boston area. Wegmans will continue to have stores in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Medford, Northborough, and Westwood.Video below: Newest supermarket 'different from anything Wegmans has ever done'
NATICK, Mass. —
Wegmans announced Thursday its plans to close their Natick, Massachusetts grocery store later this summer, with an exact date to be determined.
"Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work," Brien MacKendrick, human resources director, for Wegmans New England division said in a written statement.
"Making these decisions is never easy. However, we do it for the long-term benefit of our people, our customers, and our communities."
Wegmans said it eyed Natick as an ideal location for a grocery store as far back as 2009, but couldn’t find a site that met its criteria until the Natick Mall location became available.
What it looks like inside Wegman's grocery store inside of a mall
The company's Natick store opened in 2018 and was Wegmans’ first multi-level store inside of a mall. At 134,000 square feet, the company said it was one of its largest locations.
The Rochester, New York-based store said store employees have been notified throughout the day. The 365 employees at the Natick store, which includes 142 full-time positions, will be offered positions at other Wegmans locations in the greater Boston area.
Wegmans will continue to have stores in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Medford, Northborough, and Westwood.
Video below: Newest supermarket 'different from anything Wegmans has ever done'
FAQs
(AP) — The Wegmans supermarket chain is closing one of its largest and most unusual stores because it has not attracted enough business, the company said. The Natick, Massachusetts store will close on an undetermined date this summer, the Rochester, New York-based company said in a statement on Thursday.
Which Wegmans store is the largest? ›
Our largest store, located in Dewitt, N.Y., is nearly 160,000 square feet.
Where is the oldest Wegmans store? ›
Originally starting as a produce cart, the first store opened in 1917 at 72 West Main St in Rochester, New York. Wegmans is headquartered in the Rochester suburb of Gates.
What's the deal with Wegmans? ›
One reason that people like Wegmans so much is that it offers a variety of quality food at good prices. There are healthier, organic, and more sustainable options, but they aren't as expensive as other places. The generic Wegmans-brand products are cheaper than mainstream products but the quality is not compromised.
What happened to Wegmans Natick? ›
Natick, Ma., June 1, 2023 – Wegmans today announced it will close its Natick, Massachusetts, store – located at 1245 Worcester St. – later this summer [update: July 22, 2023]. Store employees were notified throughout the day and were assured their positions with the company are secure.
Who owns Wegmans now? ›
Today, Robert's son Danny Wegman, and Danny's daughters Colleen and Nicole, lead the company. Wegmans' big, bright, and beautiful stores offer a shopping experience that customers adore; they rave about the open- air market ambiance, the selection of foods, and the award- winning service.
Who is Wegmans biggest competitor? ›
Wegmans Food Markets main competitors are The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, C&S; Wholesale Grocers, and Rite Aid.
Is Wegmans owned by Amazon? ›
Whole Foods is owned by Amazon.com Inc.; Wegmans is privately owned.
What state has the most Wegmans? ›
New York Boasts The Most Wegmans Stores
Given Wegmans' Empire State start, it shouldn't come as a surprise that New York ranks as the state with the most Wegmans stores. These locations crop up across Rochester -- the city boasts more than 15 locations -- as well as Buffalo and Syracuse.
What was Wegmans old name? ›
Wegmans was originally founded in 1916 by brothers John and Walter Wegman in Rochester, New York. Originally called the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company, the name became Wegmans in 1930 and has remained the same since.
To this day, Wegmans is privately owned by the same family who started it. John and Walter's offspring got into the business and now Walter's great-grandchildren Colleen and Nicole serve as president and vice-president of the company, respectively.
What does Wegmans do with unsold food? ›
The grocer partners with local food pantries and farmers. “If it's still safe and still edible for someone, it should not be going in the trash," said Wegmans sustainability manager Chris Foote, "it should not be going into a compost bin." Foote has been working at Wegmans full time since 1997.
What is the best day to shop at Wegmans? ›
Best Days To Shop at Wegmans: Sunday, Monday and Wednesday
“The best day to shop at Wegmans is at 8 a.m. on Monday mornings,” said Samantha Landau, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. “This is when the stock is fresh and it will be unlikely that your favorite items are out of stock.
Why is there no Wegmans in Florida? ›
Distance is, in fact, a major consideration. With distribution hubs in New York and Pennsylvania and one in the planning stages in Virginia, we can service potential stores in most of the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Distributing product to Florida, however, would be cost-prohibitive at the present time.
Why are people protesting Wegmans? ›
The activists accuse the grocery store of having a contentious relationship with the local Black community following a rally outside the store on February 1st that lead to the arrest of 15 people on trespassing and other charges.
Why is Wegmans closing in Massachusetts? ›
Wegmans blamed a lack of traffic for the closure. "Unfortunately, with this non-traditional location we are unable to attract enough customers for our business model to work," Brien MacKendrick, the human resources director for Wegmans New England division, said in a statement.
How big is the Wegmans store in Alexandria? ›
Wegmans Carlyle-Alexandria is an 81,300 square-foot supermarket located at 150 Stovall St.
How big is Reston Wegmans? ›
The 85,000-square-foot store, which is located at 11950 Hopper St. next to the Dulles Access Road, sits atop a two-level parking garage. Unlike the sprawling Wegmans Store in nearby Fairfax Lakes, the Reston location was built with an urban design, similar to the grocery chain's Tysons location.
How big is the Wegmans in Brooklyn? ›
BROOKLYN, NY, May 01, 2019 – Wegmans Food Markets is now hiring and training for 350 part-time positions at its first New York City location, which is scheduled to open Sunday, October 27 at 7 a.m. The 74,000 square-foot store is located on Flushing Avenue in the Admirals Row development of Brooklyn.
How big is the DC Wegmans? ›
Popville dubbed it an “84,000 square foot Shangri-La.” There's even a Women of Wegmans fans club that will show up, dressed to the nines, for the 9 AM opening. So what's with all the fuss? Wegmans novices like myself may be skeptical.
