Imagine intermission at a Jimmy Buffet concert held inside a Wal-Mart and you would get some sense of the atmosphere at the grand opening of Northern Virginia's newest grocery store - Wegmans.
We loaded up the twins at 10:00 AM and waded into the sea of humanity that had come to explore Wegmans. There are lots of nice little convenience and perks for shoppers; the only problem was that to get to them you pretty much had to commit a misdemeanor battery on someone. Apparently there is a kids center where you can leave you kids (like IKEA) while you shop. I never saw the kids center but, considering that I probably only saw 50% of the store in our 1 1/2 hour visit, that's not surprising. The aisles were like a giant bumper car ride with shopping carts. I had my heels rolled up on by shopping carts at least five times.
Perhaps when we next venture to Wegmans the initial hysteria will have waned. Unfortunately, judging by the crowds, I think the word on the store got out...
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Comments (11)
I think I'll wait awhile be... (Below threshold)1. Posted by James Joyner | February 29, 2004 5:06 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think I'll wait awhile before venturing to Wegman's. Frankly, there's nothing at a grocery store that could induce me to endure Ikea-style frenzy.
1. Posted by James Joyner | February 29, 2004 5:06 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 17:06
2. Posted by Jess | February 29, 2004 5:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Frankly, there's nothing at a grocery store that could induce me to endure Ikea-style frenzy.
I dunno...Wegman's is pretty awesome. ;)
2. Posted by Jess | February 29, 2004 5:33 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 17:33
3. Posted by jen | February 29, 2004 5:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Like you didn't know it would be crazy on opening day?
I am waiting a couple more weeks before I make a trip. I know what goodness is there. I can wait a little bit longer.
3. Posted by jen | February 29, 2004 5:35 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 17:35
4. Posted by Jim | February 29, 2004 7:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Oh, I am so jealous. I miss Weggy's something fierce. They're corporate base is Rochester and they (helped a bit by foreign owned Tops) forced every substandard suck hole grocery store into the depths of market hell where they belong. I was spoiled bad by Wegmans.
Down here in Atlanta the closest thing is Kroger but they're a long shot from being a Wegmans.
4. Posted by Jim | February 29, 2004 7:19 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 19:19
5. Posted by Rabbi M. | February 29, 2004 9:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'll be venturing there later this week- they have a (somewhat) kosher deli counter, and apparently a good selection of kosher foods. That's a big deal in NoVa.
5. Posted by Rabbi M. | February 29, 2004 9:00 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 21:00
6. Posted by Jalal Abu Jarhead | February 29, 2004 9:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Also, the traffic was completely clogged on Rt 28 when I drove past about 3 p.m. That's when I knew it must be a madhouse inside.
Like Jen, I can wait a bit before I venture inside.
6. Posted by Jalal Abu Jarhead | February 29, 2004 9:02 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 21:02
7. Posted by Paige | February 29, 2004 9:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I can remember the opening day of the Wegmans on Latta Road in Greece, NY, a suburb of Rochester. We awoke around 7 am, woke up our daughter who literally jumped out of bed when we asked her if she wanted to go to the new Wegmans. The store was packed solid, like sardines, it was nearly impossible to move. Finally, well over an hour later, we got to the checkout line and I asked the cashier, “Is it always this crowded here?”
It took about 2 weeks for the crowds to die down enough to shop normally.
7. Posted by Paige | February 29, 2004 9:41 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 21:41
8. Posted by James Joyner | February 29, 2004 11:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I went to the Broadlands Safeway, about half a mile from my townhouse, around 9. I had the place to myself. ;)
8. Posted by James Joyner | February 29, 2004 11:15 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 23:15
9. Posted by Kevin | February 29, 2004 11:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Today would have been the day to shop anywhere but Wegmans!
9. Posted by Kevin | February 29, 2004 11:26 PM |
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Posted on February 29, 2004 23:26
10. Posted by McGehee | March 1, 2004 7:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well, if somebody's comparing Wegman's to Kroger, it can't be so much.
When my wife and I visit Fairbanks this fall we're almost certain to spend a great deal of time in the mega Fred Meyer store where we did most of our shopping even when we lived twenty miles away in another town that had its own supermarket.
Now that is a store.
10. Posted by McGehee | March 1, 2004 7:55 AM |
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Posted on March 1, 2004 07:55
11. Posted by phoneguy | March 1, 2004 6:11 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Giant's days are numbered in Sterling, Va. There's a new sheriff in town.
11. Posted by phoneguy | March 1, 2004 6:11 PM |
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Posted on March 1, 2004 18:11