NewtownPANow.com was granted a sneak peek earlier this week at the new Wegmans Food Market that is set to open Wednesday at 9 a.m.
The new 88,000-square-foot Wegmans Food Market is opening after a year of construction and weeks of training for the 430 people it employs.
The grocery store sits in the 30-acre mixed-use Prickett Preserve development nestled between Stony Hill Road and I-295 in Lower Makefield Township, which is only a few hundred yards from the borders with Middletown and Newtown townships.
Store Manager Bill Platt showed off the fresh new store and its stocked shelves.
“I tell my staff that it will never look like this again,” he joked.
The store, the second Wegmans in Bucks County and first in the lower end, has drawn excitement from the community.
As the store neared opening and the finishing touches were completed, Platt said at least a dozen people come up to the building each day to see if it is open or under the impression it had already opened.
“Some people have made it in with their bags before we caught them,” Platt said.
Ahead of Wednesday’s opening, staff was preparing fresh sushi, pizza, salads, cheeses, flowers, cookies, fish, and sandwiches. There was a large amount of produce with hundreds of varieties being stocked.
The store will feature 1,200 wines and 500 varieties of domestic, craft, and imported beers and hard ciders. Some of the beer and wines are locally-made, including from Vault Brewing in Yardley Borough and Rose Bank Winery in Newtown Township.
The store employees said that wines will range from just a few dollars to some bottles that cost $1,000.
Platt said customers will be able to get all the staples and even more.
Of the 430 workers, 160 will be full-time and the rest part-time, Platt said.
“There’s been training and practice runs in the store to make sure our people are ready,” he explained.
Dave Hemmer, the service area manager for Wegmans, said the staff has been training for weeks and is prepared to greet customers.
Hemmer stated the store has already forged partnerships with local farmers, food brands, and nonprofits.
The 150-plus seat in-store cafe and an outdoor seating are ready for customers.
Platt said nearby office complex workers are expected to be frequent visitors of the prepared food sections.
The store has already partnered with the Bucks County Opportunity Council and donated $10,000.
The store and staff have also volunteered to stock the Harry S. Truman High School’s food pantry in Bristol Township.
“The pantry is vital to Truman because students can get what they need discreetly,” said Natalie Wood, English and special education teacher, who runs the food pantry.
Hemmer said working with the staff and students at Truman was a rewarding experience, and he looks forward to continuing that partnership and helping other area schools.
Wegmans has a goal of creating almost zero waste from its stores, and Hemmer explained that donating food as it is cycled off shelves, composting some items, recycling, and turning other unused scraps into energy are key to the sustainability program.
