Wegmans declines to pursue Newport News site

Wegmans Food Markets will not be taking flight in Newport News, Va.

Developers for the Rochester, N.Y.-based company had proposed building a store on property belonging to the Newport News Airport, but a rezoning application filed with the city was withdrawn in June after it failed to win approval of its city council. At that time, developers were expected to resubmit plans but they were discouraged when the Federal Aviation Commission subsequently rejected plans for street extensions around the property that were a part of the site’s original plan, published reports said.

A spokeswoman for Wegmans confirmed to SN Tuesday that the company would not pursue the Newport News site and was turning its immediate attention to other locations.

Wegmans lists 12 future sites at its website, including three expected to open in 2017 (Hanover Township, N.J., Montvale, N.J. and Medford, Mass.) and three targeted for a 2018 opening (Chantilly, Va., Lancaster, Pa., and Natick, Mass.).

Wegmans also has plans to build new sites in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Tysons Corner, Va.; and four sites in North Carolina (Cary, West Cary, Raleigh and Chapel Hill) but has not assigned an opening date for them.