Wegmans — Local services in Chapel Hill

Hot damn, y'all. Let me tell you about this grocery store that thinks it's fancier than a peacock at a turkey shoot. Wegmans rolled into Chapel Hill in 2021 like a Ferrari at a monster truck rally, and boy howdy, have they got some opinions about how we should be shopping.

First off, these Yankees brought their high-falutin' organic produce section that's bigger than my first apartment. They've got vegetables I can't even pronounce, and I went to college, sort of. You want seventeen types of kale? They've got it. Need some grass-fed-free-range-hindu-meditation-practicing beef? They've got that too, at prices that'll make your wallet cry harder than a man watching Old Yeller.

Their employees are trained to be cheerful enough to make Disney World look like a funeral home, though sometimes you catch one having what my daddy would call "a moment." But hey, they treat their people right, college cash money, benefits, probably dental insurance for their goldfish too. Real bleeding heart stuff that'd make Bernie Sanders blush.

They're so eco-friendly, I reckon they apologize to the trees for printing receipts. Everything's sustainable this, renewable that - I'm pretty sure they've got a committee dedicated to measuring their carbon footprint while wearing recycled birks hemp sandals. Hell, they probably have solar-powered shopping carts in development.

And don't get me started on their animal welfare standards. Those chickens probably have better healthcare than I do. They're probably out there giving therapy sessions to stressed-out roosters and yoga classes for free-range turkeys.

Want some entertainment? Watch some good ol' boys try to navigate their "international cuisine" section. Nothing funnier than watching Billy Bob try to figure out if quinoa is a grain or a new foreign car model. They've got more exotic foods than a United Nations potluck.

The health programs? Lord Almighty. They've got more wellness initiatives than a California rehab center. Dietitians walking around like food prophets, ready to tell you why your grandaddy's biscuit recipe is slowly killing you. They've partnered with hospitals like they're planning to turn grocery shopping into a medical procedure.

And for the conspiracy theorists out there; no, they ain't Russian spies, though that would explain some of their prices. They're just Yankees who figured out how to make grocery shopping feel like a trip to a theme park.

Sure, they could use more diversity in their corporate suits up North, but down here they're trying harder than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest to make everyone feel welcome.

Bottom line? Wegmans is like that overachieving cousin who went to Harvard and won't shut up about it: annoying as hell but probably good for the family reputation. They've muscled their way into baby blues Chapel Hill like a crossfit enthusiast at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and despite my best efforts to hate on it, they're doing alright.

Just remember, no matter how fancy their cheese counter is (and sweet baby Jesus, it's fancy), ain't nothing gonna replace a good tailgate with a cooler full of beer and a parking lot full of friends. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go figure out what the hell "artisanal water" is and why it costs...

I grew up in Wegman’s country. Back then it was a regional store or two, but you could see the beginnings of greatness. Down from Philly just now to help get my “daughter in law” ready to hit the ground running at Duke Law we made sure she saw the inside of a real grocery store. And all the little things just flooded over me. Deja Vu all over again. Both here and in the older store we have back home there isn’t a mop string stuck under the shelving to be found anywhere. No little L-shaped bits of crud in the corners near the meat department. There’s no pin-bones in the always excellent salmon fillets because the current fish department watch supervisor is standing over there right now with a pair of needle-nose pliers pulling them out. The selection of prepared foods is vast, top-drawer and shifts seasonally. The produce is fresh, well maintained and priced like they know produce and want to put it in your refrigerator, not the store compost bin. The bakers make some fine breads, both artisan and more functional ones. I’ll bet you can’t find a better multi grain loaf anywhere, but for sure if you do it won’t be at this price point. It just goes on and on. Just like the store. While this Chapel Hill store is a mere 76,000 square feet (diminutive compared to our home store which is 123,000 square feet) it checks all the boxes and it does so with the best of everything priced like it’s the second best of everything. The Wegman family has locked down grocery retailing as hospitality (GRaH) and now it’s up to the other folks to figure out how to catch up. And you know what? It just occurred to me that there wasn’t anything closed or un-manned in the place. When our hotel room isn’t getting made up each day, the breakfast buffet is only complimentary coffee, and the Bojangles next door closed the dining room and has cars encircling the entire restaurant for the drive through this store has a full staff. Know why? Because they pay a living wage, have the best benefits in the industry and treat every employee who is willing to give 110% like family. What’s not...

It was my first time going to a Wegmans today since it's the Grand Opening in our area. My first impression upon entering with my wife was "Wow! This place looks nice, big, and complete" with a lot of freshly-prepared ready-to-eat foods but by the time we went out, we only ended up buying a Danish, a cough syrup, and pack of cheap beef ramen. Sadly, none of the delicious-looking foods or sushi that we desired because of their ridiculously expensive price!

For instance, in their Asian food section, they have these small portions of a variety of Chinese chicken dinners with noodles but for $10 each? I rather get a Chinese takeaway. Same for the prepared pasta- more than $10 for a small portion? Rather cook at home. No, I'm not a peasant or a millionaire but I know where value is at; even if I'm a millionaire (which I will be), I wouldn't put my money on food with such a small portion.

The sushi area looks impressive, with a variety of ready packages prepared by a chef, but for that price, I rather go to a sushi restaurant that could offer more for my buck.

I would love to love Wegmans because of their quality goods but now I'm hesitant to return because of ridiculously expensive prices. I know it's not as value-friendly as Walmart or Costco, and I know as a New York-based business, it can be quite as expensive as New York, but for a North Carolina location, there are much better options for foods they provide in the Triangle area for much less price.

Oh yea, they also have a Burger Bar but it doesn't seem special and doesn't seem to have a lot of options like how H-Mart is with their diverse selection of Korean and other Asian foods. Maybe if they make their freshly prepared foods more affordable, I would return multiple times. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way, so I hope Wegmans takes this feedback seriously so they can win the hearts of value-smart...