If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I like Trader Joe's (except for their mustard) - organic foods, healthy foods, cheap foods. But the closest Trader Joe's to us is about a 45-minute traffic-filled ride for us, and since TJ's is small and doesn't carry a lot of name-brand products, we usually end up having to hit the Superfresh, too.
Enter Wegmans. Sweet, sweet, Wegmans. Being just outside the Wegmans area, I had heard a lot about how great this store was from those in the Wegmans zone, but come on, it's just a supermarket, right? Well, Wegmans finally moved into our area (about 15 minutes away), and it's not your usual supermarket.
Wegmans is like Trader Joe's and Superfresh mashed into one, and then some. It's got a huge produce section with plenty of local grown stuff, a huge bakery, a huge bistro, a huge organic section, a huge cheese section, a huge international section. Get the idea? It's got name-brand, store-brand, and many of the same brands sold at Trader Joe's.
It's big, but it's also got tons of employees (well-treated employees). I don't know if there is so much help just because it's a newly-opened store, but we'll find out soon enough since Wegmans is now our new supermarket.
Sorry, Joe.
Ooh, I'm jealous. I've heard all about Wegmans on CooksTalk but never been in one. Maybe they'll come to New England next?
Posted by: Karen | 2006.06.18 at 09:01 PM
Actually, they only treat their human employees well. Allegedly. Their animals get treated like dirt compared with Trader Joe's. http://urveg.org/campaigns/wegmans
Posted by: Joe Sixpack | 2006.06.19 at 01:45 AM
Okay, it's rare that I wish I were in South Jersey, but I will say that ever since I heard that Wegman's was coming, I was terribly envious...
Posted by: Kelly | 2006.06.19 at 08:42 AM
For me, it was goodbye, Shop Rite... you lousy, uncaring, bad seafood, overcharging, sour employee store and hello Wegman's! I did hear we were supposed to get a more local Trader Joe's so I'll still patronize them if only because they were there when I needed them.
And Mark? I don't care how cute you are... that photo is waaaaaay too up close. Back it up, bub.
Posted by: Janie | 2006.06.19 at 12:53 PM
Ah, Wegmans. I live in the hometown area of Wegmans (Rochester, NY). When I first moved here in college it was love at first shop and I'm still a loyal customer many years later. They are a great store, have happy employees and I have never seen better produce in my life! It's not just the newness that makes them great.
Posted by: MoMMY | 2006.06.19 at 05:14 PM