Wegmans’ Live-Action Thriller

Wegmans’ live camera feed via YouTube, which allows shoppers to view the line, if any, outside its newly opened West Cary, N.C., area store, feels at once voyeuristic and the socially responsible way to shop during a pandemic.

Part of the additional safety measures put in place at the store, which opened July 29 and is located at 3710 Davis Drive, Morrisville, N.C., the live cam is just one of the ways Wegmans is encouraging social distancing as it begins to open new stores on the East Coast.

“We opened our doors to the Cary community with an extra emphasis on protecting the health and safety of both our customers and employees,” Wegmans Director of Public Relations Deana Percassi told WGB in an email. “We implemented a number of measures to minimize the congregation of people, and to ensure proper social distancing practices were being followed at times when a line formed outside the store.”

According to the live camera, there were no lines outside the store at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. EDT on July 30, indicating an all-clear for shoppers anxious to head over and check out the new Wegmans.

“The live camera feed was a great addition to the opening, and something our customers took advantage of,” Percassi said. “We will be using this same approach for our Harrison, N.Y., opening next week.”

In preparation for the Harrison opening on Aug. 5, which marks the first Wegmans in Westchester County, the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer also has been working with local organizations to make a difference in their new neighborhood.

“We care about the well-being of our community and the success of local organizations,” said Harrison Store Manager Matthew Dailor in a statement. “For over a year, we’ve been immersing ourselves in nearby neighborhoods and working to give back, following Wegmans' five key giving priorities.”

Those priorities include feeding the hungry, helping young people succeed, encouraging healthy eating and activity, enriching store neighborhoods, and supporting United Way initiatives.

Since 2019, Wegmans has been actively involved in the Harrison community, providing food for people at risk of hunger; contributing to a variety of employee and sports scholarships; supporting local races, biking events and walks; donating time, resources and funds to local causes; and continuing its decades-long tradition of contributing to local United Way agencies in its market areas.