You're looking at the wreckage of the Snowden River warehouse where Wegman's is building its new store.Wegman's Web site still lists the store's opening as "TBD." But it is good to see the work commencing. I remember a day in 2007 or so when someone told me that the Wegman's wouldn't open until 2009, and that seemed far too long to wait.
(Update: An anonymous commenter below says he/she knows people who work for Wegmans and estimate the opening in early 2011. He/She also describes how the store will be laid out.)
If you're new to the Columbia Wegman's, this construction is at Snowden River and McGaw Road across from Apple Ford. I posted a while ago about why I want Wegman's. For real estate news, I always suggest that people watch the Tales of Two Cities blog.
10 comments:
I can't wait until I can get a local source of Marco Polo bagels!
I've been watching the demolition of the warehouse for weeks now in anticipation of the actual beginning of construction. Wegman's is a great store. If I recall correctly, it is supposed to be a two-story, 160,000 sq. ft. structure. I wondered how they would do that, but visited a Tesco in Bangkok and saw an escalator on a gentle slope, something akin to the walking pathways in the airport, but on an incline. Works well.
Finally, some movement? I can't wait to see if they'll have produce as fresh as it is upstate.
Rob: The Wegmans in Fairfax is technically two stories, but has nothing near so fancy as the escalator you describe. Instead it has just a simple elevator. The main floor has the food, and a much smaller store underneath it sells wine.
In the Hunt Valley location, the second floor is used for eat in customers and offices.
And the restrooms.
The restrooms are on the second floor. On my first visit, I immediately rushed up to the restroom without looking around. When I walked out, I was on a landing that overlooked the entire store -- food to the horizon. After hearing all the stories and driving all the way there, the vista had the effect of color in the Wizard of Oz.
This just made my day. I can't wait until this opens and I can have a Danny's sub for lunch. And two floors?!? Wow.
Being originally from Rochester, NY, I know two people that work for Wegmans, and they tell me that Columbia should open in early 2011. They only open 2-3 stores per year, as each one is a major undertaking - not only from a construction perspective, but also in terms of training all the employees. If you look to the right of the construction site, you will see a trailer with the Wegmans logo on it that clearly states it is the construction office. Due to the lot size, and the 160,000 sq ft size of the store, there will be a two-story parking garage attached to the store at the Snowden side. The store will stretch west from that along McGaw Road. This will be the largest Wegmans ever built! There will also be a traffic light installed next to Apple Ford, and many lane improvements. Being an original Rochestarian, we kind of take Wegmans stores for granted until we move away from there...
This is GREAT news! I am so glad they've started and can't wait for the Grand Opening. I've been using the Wegman's in Hunt Valley which is a pretty good trek for me to get to. The stores are definitely worth it.
Bring it on! I'm somewhat disappointed with Harris Teeter in Kings, so in the absence of a Whole Foods in HoCo, I'll put my hopes in Wegmans.
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