The produce section at the Pittsford, NY Wegmans, where the author used to shop. (Photo by Suess in NC, Flickr)
By Amy L. Hatch
When we decided to move to Chambana, I had two great fears: that I would never find a hair stylist I loved as much as my old one, and that I would never find a grocery store like Wegmans.
I found a super stylist (hi, Melissa at Timothy John Salon!). But I never got over Wegmans.
I have a thing about grocery stores, you see. My husband Some people would say that I have what amounts to a fetish about Wegmans — and you would, too, if you’d ever shopped there.
Wegmans is a privately held company founded 91 years ago in Rochester, and even the New York Times recognizes its greatness, routinely mentioning it in articles about national brands like Whole Foods and even — yes, Chicago natives — Trader Joe’s. Wegmans is the Neiman Marcus of grocery stores. It is the Porche of grocery stores.
And it is only located in New York, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. In fact, one reason I love watching “The Office” is because they always have Wegmans-brand food in their office kitchen.
See? I know, I really really love Wegmans. There is even an entire Flickr pool called “Wegman’s Fanatics.” At least I know I’m not alone.
The Wegmans I shopped at before we moved here has an oyster bar in the middle of it. An oyster bar! In the grocery store! And I hate oysters!
Anyhoo, we make a stop at Wegmans every time we go back East, and the Christmas holiday was no exception. We brought back some of their special mini-chocolate chip cookies and some coconut macaroons. I would have picked up some of their Parmesan cheese and some white hots, but we’d left the cooler back in Chambana.
Every time we get back from a trip to Rochester I go through a two-week mourning period for Wegmans. I had to food shop the day after we got home last week, and I was totally bereft.
Schnucks is very nice, Meijer has its charms. IGA and County Market? Great in a pinch.
But I’m sorry, Chamana, I’ll always pine for Wegmans — because home is were the grocery store is. And Mr. Danny Wegman, if you are reading this?
Please, please build a Wegmans in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Please?
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I am a well-regarded grocery store snob, and I have made it very clear of my disdain for the fact that I have to go to at least three stores to complete my grocery shopping here in Chambana. Your Wegmans sounds like Sunset, the grocery store I grew up going to on the North Shore. One thing I don’t miss is their prices.
Wegman’s is the last thing I think about at night and the first thing I think about in the morning. lol
I seriously considered looking into how to build a Wegmans in Chambana, but alas, I’m no business woman.
Thanks for this lovely article Amy!
Let me take you on a tour of Morgantown’s finest, and you will stop feeling so sorry for yourself:) -H
I’m originally from Erie, Pa., and I completely understand your Wegmans fetish! It’s a gorgeous store. If there’s a petition for Danny Wegman, I will sign it.
I have been on a quest to get a better grocery store in Champaign/Urbana. They recently put a “The Fresh Market” in Bloomington/Normal in their old World Market store location. Although it is not Wegman’s, they do have a better selection of produce, deli, meats, and organic dairy than most of the places in town. If you would like send them a letter [http://www.thefreshmarket.com/company/contactus.aspx]! We have an empty World Market store location that would be perfect!
AH!!! Wegmans…how I miss thee!! It fed me for two years (and my husband for 5 years) in Rochester – right behind grad housing where I lived. And the bigger Wegmans that we shopped at in Rochester and in Ithaca when we visited my sister..can still taste their jalepeno bread! It’s a great store and is defines the ultimate grocery shopping experience. I like TJs and Whole Foods ..but Wegman still rules!
But I think you left out the best thing about Wegmans….or at least some of them have….FREE CHILDCARE for up to 2 hours!!!! I mean seriously, who ever came up with that idea was freaking genius! If only, if only, if only…we had one here in CU.