New Wegmans Opens Today in Virginia

Wegmans in Gainesville, Va., (officially known as Wegmans Lake Manassas) opened today. The Washington Post provided this story with this unique aspect about the store:

Although each store offers a similar selection of goods, Dempsey said the decor varies. Each store has a mural along the back wall representing the region. The Gainesville store's mural depicts scenes such as the cherry blossoms in the District and the Shenandoah mountains. And the mural would not be complete, Dempsey said, without a scene of the Manassas Battlefield.

New Wegmans Planned for Fairfax County in Northern Virginia

Dulles. Fairfax. Woodbridge. Lake Manassas. Leesburg. Fredericksburg.

Now add Mount Vernon in Fairfax County to the list of locations for Wegmans in Northern Virginia. According to an article in the Mount Vernon Gazette:

By Chuck Hagee, Gazette
Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Wegmans Grocery is finally coming to Mount Vernon-Lee districts. But, primarily to Lee District, since the plot of land of its future home only contains a small corner in Mount Vernon District.

That was the word delivered by Lynne J. Strobel, Esq., of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh to members of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce during their luncheon last Thursday at Belle Haven Country Club. "Wegmans is 100 percent committed to this project," she said.

The project she was talking about, to be known as "The Hilltop Village Center," will be located at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Beulah Street, presently home to a construction and demolition debris landfill operation and a nine hole golf course.

More Politics Preventing Wegmans in Boston

Politicians are having fun blocking a liquor license for Wegmans in Massachusetts, thus preventing a new store in a new market. Some details from news articles and editorials show it's more than just for the sake of policy, it's more about preventing competition, doing favors and good ol' lobbying:

Patriot Ledger:
"McMurtry said Rep. Angelo Scaccia, a Democrat from Boston, told McMurtry that he would block the bill because it would give Wegmans a competitive advantage against a nearby Roche Bros. store in Westwood."

The Daily News Transcript:
McMurtry, who is pushing for the Legislature to approve the bill, thinks Scaccia is being influenced by a potential Wegmans competitor. It seems clear he is. Roche Bros. Supermarkets, whose CEO and owner, Rick Roche, lives in Westwood, hired former state representative Maryanne Lewis to lobby on its behalf. Lewis served in the House with Scaccia.

Wegmans in Boston?

People familiar with Wegmans clamor for the store in their city. With the D.C. and Philly markets conquered, is Boston next? Should it be the next big city market for Wegmans to expand and thereby increase its cult status and profit margin?

I would guess that by looking at the store locator map that Boston is not next. Look where the retail service center is located -- right in the heart of Pennsylvania with access to all four compass points. I don't think Boston sees a Wegmans until Albany sees one first.