Wegmans plans to open Long Island’s first store, says upscale grocer

High-end supermarket chain Wegmans is taking steps to open its first grocery store on Long Island.

The grocer has struck a deal to purchase 8.5 acres of land in a shopping center in Lake Grove Village, where it plans to build a 100,000-square-foot supermarket, the Rochester-based chain announced in a statement Monday.

No timetable has been set for construction and opening.

“Wegmans will be a positive addition to our village, helping to renovate all of the area’s retail stores. The company has a reputation for bringing people near and far from Lake Grove to do their shopping,” Lake Grove Mayor Robert Scotalin said in the statement.

The grocer said in the statement that Wegmans will take place at the 28-acre DSW Plaza in Lake Grove at the corner of Middle Country and Morriches Road.

Prestige Properties and Development will continue to own and operate the remainder of the mall.

When asked why Wegmans chose to enter the Long Island market, spokeswoman Laura Camera told Newsday that the grocer chooses new locations based on several factors, including properties located in densely populated areas Wegmans want regional locations that are easy for customers to find and access.

Wegmans chose a good location for his Long Island store, as the village is centrally located and the shopping center is across the street from Smith Haven Mall, Scottaline told Newsday on Monday.

Smith Haven Mall was an anchor in the area but [that has declined] With online shopping. I think Wegmans will become an anchor for the area,” he said.

Scotalin said Monday that Wegmans has not submitted any building plans for the village yet. He and other village officials said they will meet with Wegmans officials on May 12 to discuss the project.

The last supermarket in DSW Plaza was Fairway Market, which was two years old when it closed in July 2016, months after the Manhattan-based parent company was declared bankrupt.

Jerry Wilkes, president of Wilco Realty, Inc., a New Rochelle-based real estate firm that represented Prestige in the Wegmans deal, said Wegmans would not take over the former Fairway space.

Wilkes said Wegmans plans to demolish buildings in the shopping center to make way for its new store. He said the new construction will include a site with Ashley Furniture Store, which will move to another unit in the shopping center. He said a vacant baby space from Babies R Us/Toys R Us will also be demolished as part of the project.

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. was founded. Founded in 1916, a privately owned family business operated 106 stores in seven states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. The company has more than 50,000 employees.

Camera said Wegmans typically employ 400 to 500 people for a new store.

The chain has focused on expanding into new markets in recent years.

Wegmans entered New York City with a grocery store in Brooklyn in 2019. The chain opened its first Westchester County store in 2020, and plans to open a supermarket in Manhattan in 2023.

Last month, Wegmans announced that it plans to open its first Connecticut store.

Wegmans is a popular supermarket chain because of its upscale look and value, said John Hauptmann, senior director of Inmar Intelligence, a retail industry analytics firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“There’s a degree of stage in their stores. It’s easy to shop. It’s fun to shop. There’s always something going on… There’s always something interesting to see,” he said.

The retailer also has a strong portfolio of its own brands, which helps it keep prices for central store merchandise similar to those in most traditional supermarkets, he said.