Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.

I was thinking, okay, this is not going to be a cheap foray into
supermarket land, but that's not why I was there. Walk in the door
and what is the first thing I see? Haas avocados 4 $1. Holy crow,
I guess that's the 'after superbowl' sale, because that is dirt cheap
here.

Well, what a delightful store, the stuff they had, it was just
outstanding. Prepared foods, hot out of the oven breads, all kinds
of cheeses, a beautiful meat and fish department, it really was all
I'd heard of and more. I will definitely be back.

I wound up getting Greek olives, mixed meat and sausage for sauce,
Chruscik (a box of fried something), parmegiano reggiano, and other
stuff. Was a lot of fun.

It'll be more fun next time now that I kind of have the lay of the
land, so to speak. A little overwhelming the first time you walk in.

nancy (why, oh why, didn't I get a container of the lobster bisque?)

Ack! I completely forgot, I got a container of potstickers with
dipping sauce, cooked them up and I have to say, they were Excellent.

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
>
> Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
> be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.
>
> I was thinking, okay, this is not going to be a cheap foray into
> supermarket land, but that's not why I was there. Walk in the door
> and what is the first thing I see? Haas avocados 4 $1. Holy crow,
> I guess that's the 'after superbowl' sale, because that is dirt cheap
> here.
>
> Well, what a delightful store, the stuff they had, it was just
> outstanding. Prepared foods, hot out of the oven breads, all kinds
> of cheeses, a beautiful meat and fish department, it really was all
> I'd heard of and more. I will definitely be back.
>
> I wound up getting Greek olives, mixed meat and sausage for sauce,
> Chruscik (a box of fried something), parmegiano reggiano, and other
> stuff. Was a lot of fun.
>
> It'll be more fun next time now that I kind of have the lay of the
> land, so to speak. A little overwhelming the first time you walk in.
>
> nancy (why, oh why, didn't I get a container of the lobster bisque?)

What is it about Wegmans?

I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.
They have good meat, at a high price, and if to go to a "'superstore", there
is prime beef too.
Produce is adequate, and the avocados are 4/$1 here too, now, they were 1/$1
in the fall.
They have a nice "olive bar" at $5.99/lb
The premade products are good too, but pricey.
Probably you're shopping in a "superstore". All the new ones are
superstores.

We have a decent PriceChopper here, and they have more/better produce,
better seafood,
similar prepackaged meat (no prime), at a lower cost.

Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans seems
superior, or is it superior?
I spent a month in NW Atlanta last spring and shopped at Kroger's and
Publix.
While I liked Publix better, the Kroger was acceptable.
I will admit that a good Wegmans, or PriceChopper "up here" may have been a
little bit better,
But I can't believe that there aren't other chains that are as good.

Wrong?

Dave S

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:31 -0500, "Dave S" >
wrote:
<snip>

>What is it about Wegmans?
>
>I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.
>They have good meat, at a high price, and if to go to a "'superstore", there
>is prime beef too.
>Produce is adequate, and the avocados are 4/$1 here too, now, they were 1/$1
>in the fall.
>They have a nice "olive bar" at $5.99/lb
>The premade products are good too, but pricey.
>Probably you're shopping in a "superstore". All the new ones are
>superstores.
>
>We have a decent PriceChopper here, and they have more/better produce,
>better seafood,
>similar prepackaged meat (no prime), at a lower cost.
>
>Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans seems
>superior, or is it superior?

The new ones are awesome. Really. I agree that the one in Syracuse
(Fayetteville, anyway) is/was nice (I lived in Syr in the mid-80s) and
at the time had a greater selection of "gourmet" foods compared to
say, Tops or Price Chopper. Now, of course, many supermarkets have
caught up to that standard.

But Wegmans has raised the bar-- again. I lived in NJ a few years ago
when the Princeton one opened and I was skeptical as well. After
letting the new store aura wear off, I paid a visit and was converted,
although their family-orientation schtick gets annoying sometimes.
Not only is the food wonderful and the produce incredible, the
employees are happy to work there and it shows. Checkout is fast,
efficient, and pleasant. So different from the usual indifferent
service at most grocery stores. Too bad they'll never have a store in
the 5 boroughs of NYC (not enough retail/parking space and I doubt
they could ever get checkout to be so smooth, either from the cashier
or customer standpoint).


Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:31 -0500, "Dave S" >
wrote:

>
>What is it about Wegmans?
>
>I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.
>They have good meat, at a high price, and if to go to a "'superstore", there
>is prime beef too.
>Produce is adequate, and the avocados are 4/$1 here too, now, they were 1/$1
>in the fall.
>They have a nice "olive bar" at $5.99/lb
>The premade products are good too, but pricey.
>Probably you're shopping in a "superstore". All the new ones are
>superstores.
>
>We have a decent PriceChopper here, and they have more/better produce,
>better seafood,
>similar prepackaged meat (no prime), at a lower cost.
>
>Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans seems
>superior, or is it superior?
>I spent a month in NW Atlanta last spring and shopped at Kroger's and
>Publix.
>While I liked Publix better, the Kroger was acceptable.
>I will admit that a good Wegmans, or PriceChopper "up here" may have been a
>little bit better,
>But I can't believe that there aren't other chains that are as good.
>
>Wrong?
>
>Dave S

Like the store near you, the Wegman's in Corning, NY, near my hometown
in PA, is just OK. It's a nice supermarket, but it's not a SUPER
supermarket, IYKWIM.

But, I've been to two Wegman's stores in Bethlehem, PA, where my
brother lives, and those stores are AWESOME. Totally superior in every
way to the store in Corning. Fantastic selection and great prices. The
selection of produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, deli, and
cooked/prepared foods is similar to what we get at Central Market here
in TX, but CM's prices are much higher.

MareCat wrote:
>
> On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:31 -0500, "Dave S" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >What is it about Wegmans?
> >
> >I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.

> >Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans seems
> >superior, or is it superior?

> >But I can't believe that there aren't other chains that are as good.
> >
> >Wrong?

> Like the store near you, the Wegman's in Corning, NY, near my hometown
> in PA, is just OK. It's a nice supermarket, but it's not a SUPER
> supermarket, IYKWIM.
>
> But, I've been to two Wegman's stores in Bethlehem, PA, where my
> brother lives, and those stores are AWESOME. Totally superior in every
> way to the store in Corning. Fantastic selection and great prices. The
> selection of produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, deli, and
> cooked/prepared foods is similar to what we get at Central Market here
> in TX, but CM's prices are much higher.

Thanks to you and Sue for chiming in, I didn't answer because I didn't
know what to say. My mind boggled that all the supermarkets where
Dave lives are like Wegman's. Makes more sense to know that Wegman's
older stores are like our usual supermarkets.

Funny, when Albertson's bought out the Acme chain and built a new
store to replace the old one, people were giddy, I'm not kidding,
running around the store checking out all the new stuff, the old
store was HORRID. I really like the new store, it's so nice, and
it's even clean! Still, it's no Wegman's, which is fine with me.
I'd eat prepared meals every day if it was.

nancy (wishing I'd have gotten a second container of potstickers)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Young" >
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 10:13 AM
Subject: Wegman's report


> MareCat wrote:
> >
> > On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:31 -0500, "Dave S" >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >What is it about Wegmans?
> > >
> > >I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.
>
> > >Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans
seems
> > >superior, or is it superior?
>
> > >But I can't believe that there aren't other chains that are as good.
> > >
> > >Wrong?
>
> > Like the store near you, the Wegman's in Corning, NY, near my hometown
> > in PA, is just OK. It's a nice supermarket, but it's not a SUPER
> > supermarket, IYKWIM.
> >
> > But, I've been to two Wegman's stores in Bethlehem, PA, where my
> > brother lives, and those stores are AWESOME. Totally superior in every
> > way to the store in Corning. Fantastic selection and great prices. The
> > selection of produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, deli, and
> > cooked/prepared foods is similar to what we get at Central Market here
> > in TX, but CM's prices are much higher.
>
> Thanks to you and Sue for chiming in, I didn't answer because I didn't
> know what to say. My mind boggled that all the supermarkets where
> Dave lives are like Wegman's. Makes more sense to know that Wegman's
> older stores are like our usual supermarkets.
>
> Funny, when Albertson's bought out the Acme chain and built a new
> store to replace the old one, people were giddy, I'm not kidding,
> running around the store checking out all the new stuff, the old
> store was HORRID. I really like the new store, it's so nice, and
> it's even clean! Still, it's no Wegman's, which is fine with me.
> I'd eat prepared meals every day if it was.
>
> nancy (wishing I'd have gotten a second container of potstickers)

Me and Wegmans Redux:

It is my opinion that newer stores in any grocery chain in Syracuse
are roughly equivalent. Wegmans does have all the bells and whistles.

But I also found that the Publix and Kroger, admittedly just one of each,
that I shopped in NW Atlanta
were perfectly good stores.

All Wegmans aren't created equal, but they all have three strengths:
They are clean, the employees are motivated, and the checkouts are fast.
That said, in PriceChoppers and P&Cs, you are in no immediate danger of:
disease, unpleasantness,
or, well..., OK..., maybe you >could< die of old age in the checkout lines
:-)

Grocery chains in the Syracuse market mentioned in this thread, and Sunday
ad prices:

http://www.wegmans.com/ Avocados 4/$5. (I don't think they were ever 4/$1
as I earlier disremembered)
http://www.pricechopper.com/ Maine Mahogany Clams 100/$5.99 (very popular
here, does anybody in ME eat them?)
http://www.pandcfoods.com/ didn't save their ad (nearest store 15 minutes
away, too far for an Upstater!)
Not mentioned, but a small store, with good points:
http://www.petersgroceries.com/ Black Tiger E-Z Peel Shrimp 26-30/lb/$5.98
An even smaller(?) good store with incredible hype,
"the best little grocery store in America" Inc. Magazine:
http://www.greenhills.com/ no ad in my paper (awful far away from me, maybe
20 minutes!)
ALDI is here too (I bought a PC there, not food), BJs, Sams Club, more
megaWalmarts are springing up too.

It's nice to think Syracuse excels in something other than snowfall!

Dave S

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 17:09:01 -0500, "Dave S" >
wrote:
<snip>

>All Wegmans aren't created equal, but they all have three strengths:
>They are clean, the employees are motivated, and the checkouts are fast.
>That said, in PriceChoppers and P&Cs, you are in no immediate danger of:
>disease, unpleasantness,
>or, well..., OK..., maybe you >could< die of old age in the checkout lines
>:-)

The new Wegmans (at least the one in Princeton) also have the
advantages of:
--- wonderful produce in quality and variety, which to me was the
kicker.
--- excellent full-service cheese counter (regular grocery stores have
a display of pre-wrapped cheeses, perhaps a nice variety but nothing
inspiring) where you can pick cheese, taste a sample, and have them
cut as much as you want.
--- fabulous bread and bakery items. Not just muffins, Danishes, and
stuff like that. I mean, little single-serving sizes of fussy,
beautifully decorated (and delicious) cakes, fruit tarts, etc. that
you'd expect to see at a patissierie.
--- Sees peanut brittle
--- wonderful prepared food, as well as eating area
--- all sorts of specialty (gourmet, organic, international) items-
far more than the usual
--- bulk foods and candies
--- game

and probably more things that I've forgotten, it's been a couple of
years.

>An even smaller(?) good store with incredible hype,
>"the best little grocery store in America" Inc. Magazine:
>http://www.greenhills.com/ no ad in my paper (awful far away from me, maybe
>20 minutes!)

You just don't want to go to S. Salina St. :>

>ALDI is here too (I bought a PC there, not food), BJs, Sams Club, more
>megaWalmarts are springing up too.
>
>It's nice to think Syracuse excels in something other than snowfall!
>
>Dave S

And notable for the only upside down traffic light in the US, to be
mentioned now that we are approaching March 17 :>

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

"MareCat" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:52:31 -0500, "Dave S" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >What is it about Wegmans?
>snip

>
> But, I've been to two Wegman's stores in Bethlehem, PA, where my
> brother lives, and those stores are AWESOME. Totally superior in every
> way to the store in Corning. Fantastic selection and great prices. The
> selection of produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, deli, and
> cooked/prepared foods is similar to what we get at Central Market here
> in TX, but CM's prices are much higher.


I live near enough to the store in Bethlehem on 512 and the one in Allentown
on Tilghman Street. Both have the same set up and color scheme, etc. There
are some good deals (if you watch the ads and buy what's on sale) but then
there are some really pricy items as well. In this area, the 'uppa crust'
refer to 'doing Wegman's' and look at contempt at those of us to shop at
Kings/Weis or Giant. It is the Abercrombie and Fitch of food for the
Lehigh Valley.

Took hubby in the other week, in dirty jeans and tee shirt. Of course some
of the uppas looked at us in disgust. He picked up on this....held up a
package of liver and and said 'looky Ma, innerts.....' Every now and again
I like to pull the chain of those who think they are better than everyone
else.

On the plus side, when they have contests, people usually win. I won a
salmon at the Allentown Wegmans'. A whole floppin, flippin 50 lb. salmon.
When asked, I let them them gut it and cut it into serving pieces. It was
great. I've entered a few others, but know people who have won them as
well....unlike Kings who runs contests and then posts a picture of a woman
in Florida who won big (they don't even have stores in FL).

-Ginny

Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:

> I live near enough to the store in Bethlehem on 512 and the one in Allentown
> on Tilghman Street. Both have the same set up and color scheme, etc. There
> are some good deals (if you watch the ads and buy what's on sale) but then
> there are some really pricy items as well. In this area, the 'uppa crust'
> refer to 'doing Wegman's' and look at contempt at those of us to shop at
> Kings/Weis or Giant. It is the Abercrombie and Fitch of food for the
> Lehigh Valley.
>
> Took hubby in the other week, in dirty jeans and tee shirt. Of course some
> of the uppas looked at us in disgust. He picked up on this....held up a
> package of liver and and said 'looky Ma, innerts.....' Every now and again
> I like to pull the chain of those who think they are better than everyone
> else.

Those kind of people are too pathetic to laugh at. Imagine needing
your ego propped up by a store.

> On the plus side, when they have contests, people usually win. I won a
> salmon at the Allentown Wegmans'. A whole floppin, flippin 50 lb. salmon.
> When asked, I let them them gut it and cut it into serving pieces. It was
> great. I've entered a few others, but know people who have won them as
> well....unlike Kings who runs contests and then posts a picture of a woman
> in Florida who won big (they don't even have stores in FL).

Now, when I was working and in school in north jersey, Kings was an
upscale supermarket. Is that not the case elsewhere? It certainly
wasn't anything to sneer at. Perhaps it's not the same Kings chain.

nancy

In article >,
"Dave S" > wrote:


> What is it about Wegmans?
>
> I live in Syracuse NY and I think Wegmans is really.. OK.
> They have good meat, at a high price, and if to go to a "'superstore", there
> is prime beef too.
> Produce is adequate, and the avocados are 4/$1 here too, now, they were 1/$1
> in the fall.
> They have a nice "olive bar" at $5.99/lb
> The premade products are good too, but pricey.
> Probably you're shopping in a "superstore". All the new ones are
> superstores.
>
> We have a decent PriceChopper here, and they have more/better produce,
> better seafood,
> similar prepackaged meat (no prime), at a lower cost.
>
> Is the competition so weak in the rest of the country that Wegmans seems
> superior, or is it superior?
> I spent a month in NW Atlanta last spring and shopped at Kroger's and
> Publix.
> While I liked Publix better, the Kroger was acceptable.
> I will admit that a good Wegmans, or PriceChopper "up here" may have been a
> little bit better,
> But I can't believe that there aren't other chains that are as good.
>
> Wrong?
>
Yes you are, Dave. I'm originally from upstate NY, but have lived in
Dallas, Greensboro, NC, and now Seattle. Having Wegmans and Tops next
door to each other in Ithaca was heaven on earth. I would have killed
to have a Wegmans open in my old neighborhood in Dallas. The Harris
Teeter chain in NC has gone toward the Wegmans model in the last 10
years, but those stores still can't hold a candle to the Wegmans in Clay
and Ithaca. The grocery store in Seattle that comes closest to Wegmans
is Central Market, which is part of a small local chain of groceries.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

"Nancy Young" wrote:
> Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
> be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.

Yup. Now there was a store I absolutely loved.

In the Rochester area, Weggie's main competitor is Tops, and there was a
while there in the 90s when Tops was winning out handily. Things didn't turn
around until Wegmans took its older (and in many ways very charming) stores
and gave them the MegaWegs treatment. Only then could they run an even race
with Tops. I missed the nice old Wegmans stores, but the change allowed each
store more room to upgrade its upscale and foreign foods selection, boost
the chain's image generally and keep its prices reasonable.

Of course, this was the final nail in the coffin for the last of the smaller
chains. Bells and IGA went belly up, and last I knew Big M was just hanging
on. You can find the odd Jubilee (there's one in Spencerport), but they're
scarce as hen's teeth.

It was also the end for innumerable strip malls and shopping centers that
had used the popularity of the smaller grocery stores as keystones. MegaWegs
and Tops built new super-sized box stores of their own far (and sometimes
not so far) from the little plazas, and lulled their patrons clean away.

>Nancy Young" wrote:
>> Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
>> be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.

I'm guessing this is a relatively new East Coast chain? I'm originally
from NY but don't recall them from my time there (I left in '82). And
I've never seen one out here in California.

--
Donna
A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist hopes they are.

To reply, remove the SPAM BLOCK

For those of you at the Jersey Shore, one is opening up in the Fall in Ocean
Twp., Monmouth County. Our local Foodtown, already feeling the competition,
has announced a major expansion.
Susie Q

MaryGosline wrote:
>
> For those of you at the Jersey Shore, one is opening up in the Fall in Ocean
> Twp., Monmouth County. Our local Foodtown, already feeling the competition,
> has announced a major expansion.
> Susie Q

Whereabouts, if you don't mind me asking. The one I went to is in
Manalapan.

nancy

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 09:58:16 -0500, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>MaryGosline wrote:
>>
>> For those of you at the Jersey Shore, one is opening up in the Fall in Ocean
>> Twp., Monmouth County. Our local Foodtown, already feeling the competition,
>> has announced a major expansion.
>> Susie Q
>
>Whereabouts, if you don't mind me asking. The one I went to is in
>Manalapan.
>
>nancy


There is a nice in Bridgewater, too.

Boron

>Whereabouts, if you don't mind me asking.

Nancy,
It is going to be on the west side of Rt.#35 at Sunset Ave. in Ocean Twp.
Susie Q

Donna Rose wrote:
>
> >Nancy Young" wrote:
> >> Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
> >> be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.
>
> I'm guessing this is a relatively new East Coast chain? I'm originally
> from NY but don't recall them from my time there (I left in '82). And
> I've never seen one out here in California.

I don't know where they originated, but it's only been moving into
New Jersey in the past few years.

nancy

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 06:15:23 GMT, Donna Rose
> wrote:

>>Nancy Young" wrote:
>>> Well, after all that procrastinating I finally went. I knew it would
>>> be nice, quite nice. Well, it was all that and more.
>
>I'm guessing this is a relatively new East Coast chain? I'm originally
>from NY but don't recall them from my time there (I left in '82). And
>I've never seen one out here in California.

No, it's an old (original store in 1915) upstate NY family-owned
chain. Started in Ra-cha-cha (Rochester :>), then to Syracuse in the
'60s, Bflo in the 70s. Unless you lived in one of those cities, you
wouldn't have run into it.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Nancy Young wrote:
><snip>

>Well, after all that procrastinating I finally
> went. I knew it would be nice, quite
> nice. Well, it was all that and more.

>I was thinking, okay, this is not going to
> be a cheap foray into supermarket land,
> but that's not why I was there. Walk in
> the door and what is the first thing I
> see? Haas avocados 4 $1. Holy crow, I
> guess that's the 'after superbowl' sale,
> because that is dirt cheap here.

>Well, what a delightful store, the stuff
> they had, it was just outstanding.
> Prepared foods, hot out of the oven
> breads, all kinds of cheeses, a beautiful
> meat and fish department, it really was
> all I'd heard of and more. I will definitely
> be back.

></snip>

One opened here in Downingtown, Pa (S E PA) last spring. It is very well
recieved as I do not think the demographics would have indicated. This
is a Shop-Rite kind of aera. Their marketing people must know something.

Their produce is fantastic, fruits and veggis I never hear of. Fresh
mushrooms of many types, morels in season, trumpets, chantelles, wood
ear, pom poms, even truffles.

The cheese section is as large as some store's meat department. Fresh
Russian caviar and more. I asked if they sell much and was told that all
their caviar was sold before the sell date.

I have had raw oysters only a few times at restaurents, I get them so
often now that the fish mgr knows me.

Fish and meat departments are wonderful, nice selection of USDA Prime
beef.

All in all a great store. www.wegmans.com

I love Wegman's. After having moved from Los Angeles, CA to Central PA, I
totally missed my Trader Joe's, Bristol Farms, and Whole Foods. The city I
live in has no grocery store where I can get imported cheese, pancetta, etc.
The Wegman's I go to is about an hour from where I live, but I don't mind
the drive to State College. For me, Wegman's pretty much satisfied what I
was looking for in a grocery store, and I think they'd do well in CA.
"Hal" > wrote in message
...
> Nancy Young wrote:
> ><snip>
>
> >Well, after all that procrastinating I finally
> > went. I knew it would be nice, quite
> > nice. Well, it was all that and more.
>
> >I was thinking, okay, this is not going to
> > be a cheap foray into supermarket land,
> > but that's not why I was there. Walk in
> > the door and what is the first thing I
> > see? Haas avocados 4 $1. Holy crow, I
> > guess that's the 'after superbowl' sale,
> > because that is dirt cheap here.
>
> >Well, what a delightful store, the stuff
> > they had, it was just outstanding.
> > Prepared foods, hot out of the oven
> > breads, all kinds of cheeses, a beautiful
> > meat and fish department, it really was
> > all I'd heard of and more. I will definitely
> > be back.
>
> ></snip>
>
> One opened here in Downingtown, Pa (S E PA) last spring. It is very well
> recieved as I do not think the demographics would have indicated. This
> is a Shop-Rite kind of aera. Their marketing people must know something.
>
> Their produce is fantastic, fruits and veggis I never hear of. Fresh
> mushrooms of many types, morels in season, trumpets, chantelles, wood
> ear, pom poms, even truffles.
>
> The cheese section is as large as some store's meat department. Fresh
> Russian caviar and more. I asked if they sell much and was told that all
> their caviar was sold before the sell date.
>
> I have had raw oysters only a few times at restaurents, I get them so
> often now that the fish mgr knows me.
>
> Fish and meat departments are wonderful, nice selection of USDA Prime
> beef.
>
> All in all a great store. www.wegmans.com
>