Two months after it announced it was entering the state of Connecticut for the first time, Wegmans said that it would open its first store in another densely-populated, affluent area – Long Island. Specifically, Lake Grove, NY, a demographically favorable (annual median income: $135,000) village located in Suffolk County, near Smithtown.
Wegmans said that it has acquired 8.5 acres in the DSW Plaza at the junction of Middle Country Road and Moriches Road and intends to build a 100,000 square foot supermarket on that site. No opening date was provided, but after analyzing the Rochester, NY-based uber retailer’s upcoming new store opening dates, a 2024 or 2025 debut seems likely.
While the 28-acre shopping center is the same one that housed the former Fairway Market unit (which closed in 2016), it will not be on the same specific site.
“Wegmans will be such a positive addition to our village, as it will help rejuvenate all of the retail in the area. The company has a reputation that will bring folks near and far into Lake Grove to do their shopping,” said Mayor Robert Scottaline. “We are so excited to welcome Wegmans to our beautiful village. We look forward to working together to make a positive impact in the community.”
Although the 106-store chain promises to be a disruptive factor when it opens, it will enter a marketplace that’s already competitive. Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Costco (all among the highest sales per square foot merchants in the business) operate stores less than a mile from the planned Wegmans location, while Walmart operates two discount stores within four miles of the Lake Grove site (in Centereach and Setauket). Long Island market leader Stop & Shop’s nearest store is 2.6 miles away in South Setauket, while traditional supermarket competitor ShopRite’s closest store is in Lake Ronkonkoma about four miles from the planned Wegmans unit. BJ’s also operates a high-volume club store 4.5 miles away in Setauket.
Even though Wegmans’ first Connecticut store in Norwalk also isn’t expected to open until at least 2024, another new Wegmans store in the New York Metro area will open next year. That’s the company’s 82,000 square foot two-level supermarket at 770 Broadway (Astor Place) in Lower Manhattan, the site of a former Kmart store.
Other Wegmans sites that will open in later this year include new units in the Carlyle area of Alexandria, VA; Wisconsin Ave, NW in Washington, DC; and in Greenville, DE.