My first Wegman's - the one where I signed up for my Wegman's frequent shopper's card - was out in Downingtown. It was the ONLY Wegman's in the entire area. Mom & I were coming home from a bop out to Lancaster County, taking the "southern" route (aka Rt 30) home. The store caught my eye & in we went.
Can remember the awe I felt at what seemed like a smaller, American version of Harrods food halls.
Mom & I would always drop into Wegman's whenever we were nearby - several times, Wegman's was its our only destination.
What joy when I heard we were getting our very own, up the road a piece in Warrington!
Wegman's aren't all that rare anymore, at least not in our neck of the woods. You'll find them in Princeton & King of Prussia, Cherry Hill & Collegeville, Malvern & Mount Holly. And, yes - there is still our FIRST Wegman's, out in Downingtown. I've visited most of them - my Holy Grail is the trio of stores in Bethlehem, Nazareth & Allentown.
The store isn't rare, but the shopping experience is, perhaps due in large measure to the fact it's still family owned & operated. The first food market was opened by John Wegman, back in 1916 - the Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Company of Rochester, NY. The Wegmans (John partnered up with his brother, Walter) were always innovative and they always focused on their employees, customers & community, a dedication still evident today. Walter's son, the legendary Robert Wegman, set the bar for the innovation that's a company hallmark. That same commitment to unsurpassed excellence was passed on to his son, Danny, and Danny's two daughters, Colleen & Nicole. I've felt their personal touch in every Wegman's I've visited.
They're up to date when it comes to online support. Their website had loads of helpful information, tools for a simpler shopping experience, a well-presented blog, and so much more.
It still astonishes me to find a supermarket offering a fabulous beer selection ~AND~ a wine boutique! You can mix & match bottles of beer and find a decent $6 bottle of wine. As someone beleaguered by state-controlled liquor stores, that sort of freedom & selection is mind boggling.
Wegman's is especially fun at Christmas. I always pamper John with one of a pretty spiffy selection of smoked salmon. Linger longingly in the jaw-dropping cheese section, check out international foods for stocking stuffers, take a look up at the model training heading around a track set above the diary section. Take your time browsing through their extensive magazine selection. Marvel at all the different types of gluten-free, dairy-free & organic selections are available these days. You need Christmas cards? Something for the kitchen? The newest best seller? You'll find them here.
Hungry? Their baked goods are legendary. They not only have someone constantly making fresh sushi and an above-average salad bar, they also offer a Chinese buffet and a yummy selection of hot entrees, along with a nifty dining area with a section for kids. They even have live music on some evenings!
They say the proof is in the pudding. In this case, the proof of Wegman's excellence is found in its impressive range of awards. Most recently, company president, Danny Wegman, was named to Fitness Magazine's first Fit 50 List, celebrating 50 people who "effected real change in women's health and fitness." Real Simple magazine named it a recipient of its Shopping-Made-Easy Award. Danny W. was named to Ethispere magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics. J.D.Powers & Associates ranked Wegman's pharmacy Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Supermarket Pharmacies. Businessweek included Wegman's in its list of 25 Customer Service Superstars (included a wide range of companies). The Food Marketing Institute gave him (how appropriate!) the inaugural Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which honors the food retailer or wholesaler responsible for creating exceptional retail innovations. Did I mention that it's consistently in the top 5 of Fortune magazine's annual Best Places to Work??
Whew! And those accolades are just since 2008!
If you want a fun shopping experience, a place where you can literally indulge in one-stop-shopping for all your holiday needs, get thee going on over to Wegman's!
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