Wegmans opening

Awful, horrid what can I say. I kept thinking that they were giving away like a free car to every fourth person that shopped or something because the place was packed. I have not seen a crowd like that ever for a grocery store. I am going to ban myself from going for at least the first month.

We turned around and went to the park instead.

 

Drove by on the way to run errands.
Zoorific is the only word that comes to mind. Looking forward to the dust settling...

 

Gold mine comes to mind for me. Imagine that people are that crazy for a new grocery store...BTW, I was there in the crowd and it was good.

 

We just got back. Beautiful store with every conceivable thing under the sun and then some! The staff was helpful and seemed extremely knowledgeable but the crowds where horrendous. I had trouble just getting through aisles. We will continue to patronize the Giant and Safeway for now. If you really want to shop at Wegmans I would recommend shopping at off hours or just waiting until the hysteria dies down. Unless, of course, you are a fan of crowds like those in Times Square on New Years Eve!

 

I went to best buy on lunch and had to pass through there to get to 28 and I have one thing to say...f'ing lunacy! That store, combined with the right turn lane to 28 off of Commerce being closed makes for a fun drive. I can't imagine it'll get much better after the crowds die down and the new 28/waxpool exchange goes in, either.

 

Went by on the way the way to church. Saw the line on Waxpool and the full lot and said WTH (h for hay !? [:0] I saw smaller crowds at the Best Buy the day after Thanksgiving. By time could find a spot I'd be in and out of Costco including getting gas. Sorry Wegmans, perhaps after the dust settles. What services will be offered at the drive-thru?

 

The drive-thru is for the pharmacy. Unfortunately, it's a not a brew-thru like in NC.

 

We went sans wallets...just to people watch. It was fun watching the idiots who actually took carts in, then whined that it was so crowded...der.

 

Love those brew thru. First time for me was like a deer in headlights. I couldn't figure out what I wanted. I think I had a tear in my eyes.

Did end up going into Wegmans Sat morning. Total chaos at 10am. People where stopping in the middle of the isles with their shopping cart to talk to one another. I was about to smack them in the head and tell them to keep moving. Did see the fire marshall there. I though he was about to shut down the place or limit the number of people going in. Nice store but the prepared food wasn't as good of a selection as Fresh Fields in Arlington. They did have the best seafood and bakery dept in our area. Haven't had the time to see the rest of the store. Did get to taste some Dom P for the grand opening toast They do have a large isle for kosher and possibly hala food.

-Teak

 

Drove by at 11am and the parking lot looked like the mall on Christmas Eve!

 

I shopped last night at 7:00 and had lunch there with co-workers today at noon. Both times I admit it was busy but kudos to the staff - even with the incredible crowds they are keeping lines much shorter and faster moving than at Giant on any given weekend. It's most dense in the prepared food section but again, no waits, just some cart gridlock. Both times there were carts available and items are well stocked. They know how to handle the crowds and are so helpful. I found the prices to be as good and some better than Giant and much better than our new Safeway. The aisles are a bit crowded but my only thought is not to go when you are in a hurry or have a 2 year old in tow. They are open 6 am -1 am.

Can you tell I'm a fan?

 

Any store on the planet has prices lower than our new Safeway! Maybe Wegman's will apply some price pressure on Safeway and Giant!

 

I agree, Safeways prices are off the chart. We only go there in a pinch. Although not the greatest grocery, we have found that Food Lions prices are the best in Ashburn

 

It seems that one has to shop at many stores cause each have their weakness and strengths. Giant has good prices on overall stuff, but the produce in my opinion is not up to my standards. Shoppers has better produce selections than Giant. Food Lion has good prices on shelf stuff but their meat and seafood department lacks compare to Giant Food. Wegamans has good prepared foods, produce and awesome meat and seafood department so far. I go to Safeway for onesy - twosy stuff like beer and eggs or if I don't feel like driving out to Giant Food. I feel like the new person (safeway) has to prove to me why I should shop there and not my usual place GiantF. I may end up shopping at Wegmans if the prices are simular.

I think it's great that we in the Ashburn area have all these choices. Hopefully we can get some different gas station owners in the area so they can compete with each other. Qualility, service, and price are the main ingredients for successful competition.

What I like to see is a Trader Joes right here in Ashburn. I checked their website for franchise info and it seems they don't have a such program.

-Teak

 

I recently asked someone in the Reston Trader Joe's if they knew of any new stores going up in the area and they said there aren't any. (So much for the Sterling TJ's rumor I heard a year or so ago)

 

Sterling is so close to Reston. I wish they'd open one up next to Clydes!

 

Is there a Whole Foods Market nearby?

 

This may seem like an obvious response (from a Syracuse, NY native who has been to Wegmans four times this week!), but why would you want a Whole Foods when Wegmans is so much better?!?

If there is something at Whole Foods that you cannot find at Wegmans, inform the management and they might just begin to stock it (especially if they discover a competitive reason to do so). That's the kind of company they are.

 

Whole Food and Wegmans are two different stores. Whole Food targets the hormone free, preservative free, this free, that free, etc market. Wegmans do carry "whole food" but the entire store is not catering to those who watch what they eat.

Have you (jtarnow) been to a Whole Foods? Infact I personally feel Whole Foods prepared food is more extensive than Wegmans. I feel Wegmans cheese and wine dept beat out Whole Foods but the produce section might be a close call with Whole Foods ahead.

Only Whole Food locations I know of are Clarendon/Court house in Arlington and Rt7 in Falls Church/Tysons right off of I66.

-Teak

 

Ok, to be honest, not only do I love Wegmans because I know it from my years in NY State, but I used to live in Arlington and have never</u> liked Whole Foods (or as it used to be known in this area, Fresh Fields). From what my fiancee tells me (who is a Whole Foods fan), Wegmans has most of what Whole Foods has AND a whole lot more.