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mehmeh82

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Everything posted by mehmeh82

  1. (gas is $3+/gallon what do they think we are europeans?!?!)
  2. What are your thoughts now that 2 Wegmans are open in VA? I drive past at least half a dozen grocery stores from Alexandria to get to the Fairfax Wegs. I don't buy groceries anywhere else! Just wondering I suppose . . .
  3. Yeah, that's Wegmans' most obvious drawback - too crowded! I don't really think anything in their chef's case (the regular, everyday stuff - not the special items) is really spectacular. The Waldorf salad is sort of tasty, I guess. Also, even though the store's atmosphere impresses upon you that the choices are seemingly endless, the Fairax weggies doesn't have the large-size (not the medium size!) extra crunchy peter pan peanut butter. My friend was leaving the next day to return to Strasbourg and she needed to stock up! I'm sure though that if we took the time to fill out a comment card, our freakin peanut butter would appear in the store eventually - having been basically indoctrinated by wegmans growing up in rural ny, i would bet my mortgage they would at least make an effort to stock the peter pan. On that note, I wonder if Wegmans will become the institution in VA it has become in many places for many people in upstate (and pa).
  4. The Fairfax store is just beautiful! Weggies sure has come such a long way. I can't believe how the Corning store was at one time a flagship store - it had the very first market cafe, wokery, and all that - truly outrageous. Now, it pales (obvi). One thing I liked versus the Dulles store is how they went back to the tile floors in the foodhall side of the Fairfax store. The terrazzo floors in Dulles, however expensive, looked cheap and plain to me. Also, the Fairfax planners apparently spent ridiculous amounts of time with their landscape architects. I really wish they'd build a full service restaurant near one of these stores down here below mason-dixon (like in Pittsford), but I guess its too crowded and such (and plus, we all know the Pittsford store will always be Danny's baby). One thing I didn't like about Fairfax versus the Dulles store (having been to Fairfax only once but Dulles countless times) is how all the wine is all by itself on the lower level. I guess I'm just used to the tried-and-true 2 level layout. But the three-storey staircase, exposed-wood cathedral ceilings, and extensive windowing on that cupola thingie are really fine touches. Does anyone like the Wegmans basting oil in particular?
  5. I don't know any numbers, but I know for a fact that the Wegmans people up in Rochester are (still) ridiculously thrilled by the success of that Dulles store. If you ask someone in charge there (a department head or someone) nicely and carefully, they often let slip tidbits like "This is the biggest store so far" or "The company took a gamble and won" or "The numbers are astounding" or things like that. No one has given me any actual numbers yet but, then again, I haven't found a way to ask that question in a way that doesn't sound overly nosey. Another sign is that they are STILL hiring new employees at Dulles (and at the same time recruiting for Faifax). There was a big signboard out in the parking lot for a Wegmans job fair next week. Who ever heard of a job fair for grocery store positions? I haven't. (I know this could also mean they are having trouble keeping positions filled, but, if they were having real financial problems, wouldn't they stop hiring altogether?) Also, there were a bunch of articles in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle a few weeks ago in which Mr. Wegman himself, facing opposition to new stores in his hometown, talks about the wonderful reception these new stores have had down south and how disheartening it is to have Rochesterians against him. (But, then again, WNYers are used to spacious, clean, full-service grocery stores up there anyway.) I was at the Dulles store for nearly three hours yesterday, and from up there on the mezzanine, you can still notice the awe on a person's face every now and then (less so than when it first opened, obviously) when he walks in the door. At the checkout yesterday, a woman commented that she didn't even know places like Wegmans existed. It's a great, fun store, I think!
  6. Well, anyway, Wegmans is based in NYS and they can't sell any alcohol but beer there. Only liquor stores can sell wine and spirits. In PA, where Wegmans opened its first out-of-state stores, there exist even tougher restrictions. Selling wine and spirits at Wegmans was new to them when they first opened in NJ a few years ago. Their biggest-volume stores (besides Dulles, now) are in NY and they have no problems making lotsa profits there without wine and spirit sales (and prices for things in general are lower upstate to boot).
  7. An update... Well, I hope they are coming to their senses....
  8. I found an interesting article concerning the possibility of a Wegmans on the Maryland side of the vast reaches of DC-Metro suburbia. Apparently, the Montgomery Co government, citing excessive sprawl, is making it harder for Wegmans to open stores there. I know the company has been trying for quite some time to get a store on this side of the Potomac ... and I guess no one gets too excited anymore about ever more WalMarts, but I think Wegmans is quite different from WalMart. Wegmans does draw a whole lot of traffic, but Ive been to many Costcos and there are always tons of cars around that place too. *sigh* maybe someday.... Anyway, just FYI: Gazette Article
  9. Oh, my source is the Wintranet (www.iamamerchant.com), which is an internal employee website. I could tell you a login, but *they* would find you and then things wouldn't be very nice for the both of us. hehe. But the release said "Wegmans announces blablabla" so I figured no one would mind if I let the New Jersey people know....
  10. I was just browsing through a Wegmans website, and apparently they just announced the plans for a new New Jersey store in Morristown: A lease has been signed, subject to zoning approvals, for a site located on Route 10 near Morristown, New Jersey. In addition to a 130,000 sq. ft. Wegmans, the site will include two free-standing retail buildings and condominiums. The project is a redevelopment of a former industrial site and is about 20 miles from both Woodbridge and Bridgewater. Zoning approvals may take up to a year. A construction schedule and opening date have not yet been set. The site is located in East Hanover Township but will be referred to internally as “Morristown” which is a larger town near the site in Morris County. I don't know if this is new or not, so sorry if you all already know about it.... I dont know how long it will take to open, but the Cherry Hill store just passed the approvals phase and is expected to open in the first half of 2006.
  11. Wegmans homegrown season is the best! A farm near my house in NY supplies corn to the local wegmans in summer. This is a good article that says how they're already looking for local suppliers in NoVa. article
  12. I just logged on to the Wintranet this morning and apparently Wegmans is delaying the opening of their Fairfax store until 2005. This is the full text: Monday March 22, 2004 Fairfax and Ocean Township Opening Dates Change It was recently announced that the opening of the Fairfax, Virginia store would be delayed until the first quarter of 2005, while the opening of Ocean Township in New Jersey will be moved up to November, 2004. The success of the Dulles opening, in addition to some construction delays at Fairfax, prompted the decision to delay the opening.
  13. Wegmans posted this article in the Washington Business Journal this morning on the Wintranet. Quite interesting. So exciting. Also, they say Fairfax is opening in November. Wegmans Opening
  14. I have some updated Under Construction Photos fresh from the Wintranet! Click Dulles Construction! Also, it says Fairfax will be opening 4Q 2004. No specific date yet. See you at the Dulles Grand Opening. If any pictures are released I will try to load those, too.
  15. There is no formal employee discount, but if you get to work in fun departments like produce or bakery, youre always allowed (encouraged!) to sample for quality and tastes (first-hand experience helps when trying to explain differences to a customer). more than once weve picked a few apples from each of the 15 or so varieties on display and taste tested. also, a banana every now and then to keep ya going doesnt really matter either. blueberries and grapes are great for grazing too. Sunday's sales numbers for Woodbridge were spectacular: nearly $400,000 with produce contribution at about 10%. This is good news considering the largest Wegmans (Pittsford) averages around 2 or 3 million per week (Princeton is about a million and a half per week). Of course these numbers will fall off after the opening, but I hope not too much! finally, i got some fun pictures from the woodbridge grand opening loaded on to my silly little website. maybe one of you is in a photo! (ive never seen those cool reindeer decorations before. are they new?) Wegmans fun!
  16. OOOH grape leaves! i know for sure that the produce department at my Wegmans (Ithaca #71 woot!) sells those when they are available! if you cant find them at the store please please ask a representative if they could check the order guide for availability of grape leaves (or anything else you might have in mind). if you still cant get what youre looking for, ask for a manager or get a comment card from the front-of-the-house. (we read every single word!) February 29, 2004 Wegmans Dulles #07 Grand Opening with seven-hundred Wegmans representatives at your service! Construction updates
  17. Hi! I've just downloaded some photos of our Wegmans stores-in-progress! (including the insides of the Woodbridge store). Here is a link: http://www.msb.edu/student/u04/meh23/
  18. Owings Mills, MD 2005 Cherry Hill, NJ 2006 King of Prussia, PA 2007 Lancaster, PA 2008 While Wegmans' goal is to open two new stores each year, these are the only ones with dates attached to them. But it might take more or less time depending on zoning laws and if a community challenges the proposed store. Anyway, Woodbridge was supposed to open before Downingtown, but in the end it didnt turn out that way (due to zoning commissions, planning boards, internal decision-making, etc).
  19. I am sure the Woodbridge Wegmans will have a Patisserie with Herme desserts. I dont think we open stores without Patisseries anymore. Most of the bigger, older stores have been retrofitted with the chilled marble countertops. Which (big) stores have you been to where there has not been a Patisserie? I know Ithaca doesn't but there are good reasons for it. The only restrictions on what they can sell in the Patisserie are chocolates by the pound. Wegmans can sell as many nicollettes and opera cakes as it wants. Oh, and I read somewhere someone was complaining why they locked up the black and white truffles. I can offer an anecdotal explanation for this because we used to not lock them up. In Ithaca, rush week (Cornell University and Ithaca College) would come around and the rushing students would run into the store, load up on truffles, and make off with them into the night. Apparently this was some kind of frat initiation stunt. Store security let us know what was going on, but we really couldn't do much since the whole thing takes only a few seconds. So, we had these little plastic boxes constructed and locked up the truffles. Someone thought it was a good idea to put them in all the stores, so that's why you have locked-up truffles (except Dewitt. In Dewitt, the truffles are kept in little plastic cups). Now they don't get stolen anymore. The end.
  20. well here is more news about Tastings Restaurant: http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI...ESS05/110040332 It appears Danny's restaurant ideas have been a success. This is interesting to me because it is the first article in which I've heard Danny comment on the success of his new restaurant. He is looking to expand (although I don't know why he picked the Erie stores. There are far nicer stores elsewhere. Princeton does about $500,000 more per week than either of the Erie stores). That said, don't be surprised if your beautiful New Jersey stores end up with a Tastings over the next few years. Edit: Oh, and another thing. I think the food retail industry profit margin average is about 2-3%. I know for a fact that Wegmans profit margins have hovered between 5% and 7% for the past few years. We combine great selection with incredible service and customers will be willing to pay any price premium.
  21. I was just going through the Wintranet (Wegmans internal websites) and I found an old issue of the Merchant (Wegmans internal quarterly newsletter) that talks a bit about company demographics and decisions concerning new stores. I don't know how I would post this information but if anyone would like a copy, just send an email to meh23@georgetown.edu or post an address. It's in .pdf format and about 280k.
  22. Well, just a few things I want to say... When Danny Wegman asked Pierre Herme to provide his fine chocolates for Wegmans stores, Herme obliged with one major condition. The contract between the two parties gave Wegmans the right to sell and market the Herme chocolates, but placed a quota on the amount (in terms of pounds) that could be sold every month at Wegmans stores. As a result, only six of the 65 Wegmans stores stock the chocolates (many offer Herme-inspired creations, but not the chocolates themselves). These six stores are Pittsford (Rochester), Sheridan Drive (Buffalo), Bridgewater, Manalapan, Princeton (NJ), and Downingtown (PA). I think you can also buy them on-line, but I doubt there are many internet sales (we sell very little over the web). Whether the Woodbridge store will carry Herme chocolates really depends on how much is being sold at these six stores (I don't know the exact terms of the contract). However, the Downingtown store (our newest) carries these chocolates, so maybe that is good news for Woodbridge (our soon-to-be-newest). Finally, Wegmans may try to renegotiate its agreement with Herme, but I really don't know much about that either. I would estimate a 60% chance that the chocolates show up at Woodbridge. I'm not the slightest bit familiar with New Jersey counties, but if Ocean, Cherry Hill, Wayne or Middletown are in Bergen County, then watch the news there (these are the only NJ locations I've seen plans for). Other locations we've been looking at include Owings Mills and Rockville (both in MD) and King of Prussia, Warrington and Lancaster (PA). When the new Service Center in Pottsville (PA) opens, expect even fresher perishable foods! And now, my favorite Wegmans! Well, I would have to say I have two favorite Wegmans. The first is the Imperial Wegmans in Pittsford, NY (of course!). It is also known as Danny's Laboratory because many of his ideas are first tested there (the Village Square layout, the Patisserie, the full-service sit-down restaurant, the catering service) and he is often seen walking the aisles. It also has the highest sales dollars per week (nearly twice that of Princeton) and the atmosphere is just amazing. It has the highest number of Executive Chefs, Sous-Chefs, and Pastry Chefs of any of the stores and has many types of chefs that the other stores don't have (Chefs de Cuisine (in Tastings and in-store), Corporate Chefs (the company's central kitchen is minutes away), Chefs Saucier, Chefs de Partie, and they even have a Poissionier). Anyway, the layout is nearly the same as Princeton (except reversed with a big restaurant sticking out of one side and no wine store (NYS law prohibits wine and liquors being sold in grocery stores)). And I really appreciate the valet service. Number Two Wegmans is the Dewitt store (just outside of Syracuse). In terms of sales, it is second only to Pittsford. What I really like about it, though, is that is in the old Wegmans format (Wegmans has gone through 3 (4 if you count exterior) format changes in the past 20 years or so since I can remember). It has most of the things Princeton has, but stretched out; there is not a mezzanine. I think they switched from this format because the stores really were getting too big across. Then, after these two stores comes the Trinity ( ) out in New Jersey (Princeton, Manalapan, Bridgewater) and the Bethlehem and Downingtown stores (these are the first of the upgraded Pittsford layout - they have clocktowers and steeples and 40-foot-high windows). The Dulles store is going to be nice and the consultants say our Fairfax store has the best demographic yet (and the plans are amazing!). But, anyway, I started at Wegmans #70 Produce in Elmira (probably about half the size of Princeton in square feet and doing about a third to a half of the dollar sales) and then moved over to Ithaca #71 (this store is Princeton-sized) and then got into the management internship program where I worked with people in about 10 different stores over a summer and spent some time at the corporate headquarters in Rochester. The only time I have ever stayed the night in New Jersey was for training at the Princeton and Manalapan stores. My focus was on Produce, but we were encouraged to work with people from all departments and levels of management. Now I am back in school working on a degree. The end. My friends say I talk too much about Wegmans too.
  23. Well, I would have to say that while demographics play a very large role in how and where Wegmans selects a location and which services the store will provide, they are not its only consideration. The company is constantly innovating on the concept of what their customers are looking for in a grocery store. I have been shopping at dozens of Wegmans my entire life and one of the company's most defining characteristics is that they are always changing their offerings in-store. I can remember back when not a single Wegmans had an Executive Chef; now, even the smallest stores are getting them (the Patisserie would have been considered bizarre and ridiculous ten years ago). The tandoori oven does not seem to be because of any particular demographic (relative to the other NJ stores), but as a result of the company's desire to find new and interesting products to bring to market. It will be one of many tests for the new store. If there is enough demand, Wegmans may consider retrofitting many of its other stores with tandoori ovens (including, of course, the princeton wegmans (which, by the way, is very nice, but not the nicest )). Another likely influence in this decision was the background of the store's executive chef. Wegmans gives a very large amount of responsibility and in-store prestige to its executive chefs; they are right up there with the store manager. Furthermore, front-of-the-house employees who interact with customers on a daily basis are encouraged to let the higher-ups know what they are being asked for. Llewellyn, who comes from an Asian background, probably realized that the demand for such cuisine exists in the market and the company agrees. If Woodbridge can bring in the sales that Princeton does (Princeton is in the top 10 for the company in terms of weekly sales dollars) then I wouldnt be surprised to see tandoori ovens popping up in other Wegmans around NY, NJ, PA, VA, and soon MD.
  24. Being a Wegmans Employee for 4 years, I thought I'd take the time to offer a shameless plug for the company on your boards. (I hope you dont mind.) Here is an interesting article about the new Woodbridge Wegmans: http://desitalk.newsindia-times.com/2003/0...ing18-top3.html looks like Woodbridge is gonna have a few things that Princeton doesnt have! also, at the wegmans.com website, there is a special section for Woodbridge customers. You can get a peek at the new faces at Wegmans Woodbridge (including the new pastry chef!)
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