When Kelley Zugger found out three years ago that Wegmans was coming to Delaware, she told everyone she knew.
“I was shouting from the rooftops,” she said.
So when the store finally opened Wednesday, it was no surprise Zugger was among the first customers in line. She arrived at 6:15 a.m. for the 9 a.m. opening.
“I was tired of having to shop, first in New Jersey, and then in Pennsylvania,” the Wegmans devotee from Bear said in reference to the company’s Cherry Hill and Concordville locations. “It’s very clean, well-stocked. The employees are helpful, they’re nice, and the selection is great.”
WHAT TO EXPECT: The countdown to Delaware’s first Wegmans is over
SNEAK PEEK: We take you inside Wegmans in Barley Mill Plaza
Zugger stood behind a retractable belt at the store’s entrance as staff huddled in the produce section for a W-E-G-M-A-N-S chant to mark the opening. More than 150 people waited behind her in a line that wrapped around the corner.
The centerpiece of the new Barley Mill at Lancaster Pike and Centre Road, Wegmans was hard to see from a distance Wednesday morning due to a dense fog. Its typically white signage gave off a fuscia glow.
Many cars used the left turn lane to u-turn from the north lanes of Centre Road (Route 141) to the south lanes and the shopping center’s main entrance. From the north lanes, there’s also an earlier turn at Ursuline Academy’s Serviam Field that leads past the townhomes and around the back of Wegmans to the parking lot. Despite the crowds Wednesday morning, parking was available.
The dozens of employees gathered in produce at the front of the store, included some that weren’t on the clock but wanted to see the “chaos” of the opening after months of planning. They wore orange, red, yellow and green Wegmans polo shirts and black hats with the company’s fork, plate and glass logo. Store leaders stood on a platform made of crates and hyped the crowd over a microphone.
“We’re about to show the people of Wilmington what the best is,” store manager Jared Fedor said.
Shortly after, the gates opened and a procession of shoppers entered the store. Many had cell phones up and rolling to capture their first moments inside. They were all greeted with a handshake and a smile from Fedor.
Mary Wynne drove about 20 minutes from her Wilmington-area home to Wegmans Wednesday morning. It’s about the same distance to the Concordville store she frequents, so Wednesday’s visit was a test to see which one would become her go-to.
Either way, she prefers Wegmans to other regional and national grocery chains such as Acme and Food Lion. A difference maker, she says, are the products from the Wegmans store brand and the pizza.
“It’s just as good as the name brand and their prices are not bad,” Wynne said.
A big fan of the Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania, John McNicholas arrived early from Delaware County, Pennsylvania to check out the Delaware location. He was interested to see how the newer format, which is smaller than most existing Wegmans, compares.
“It’s good for the area,” he said, gesturing to the shops under construction next door to the crowds.
Wegmans is at the center of a mixed-use development being built in place of an old DuPont office complex. Joining it will be several restaurants and shops, including a yoga studio and coffee shop, a boutique and local restaurants McGlynns Pub and La Tolteca. A townhouse development and an office building are also under construction.
How to make the best of your trip to Wegmans
- Wegmans will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
- If you’re shopping on a budget, Wegmans brand products can be the way to go. They are often cheaper than name brand items and undergo a rigorous testing process before they’re brought to the shelves.
- Wegmans offers free membership to the Wegmans Shoppers Club, which provides customers with discounts and digital coupons. Signing up for the Shoppers Club grants you immediate access to more than $25 in welcome coupons. Additional deals are granted to members throughout the year. You can sign up on the Wegmans website or mobile app.
- Greenville’s Wegmans offers a pickup option through its website and mobile app. Orders can be scheduled in advance.
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Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
