Wegmans' Not-So-Secret West Cary, N.C., Debut

Nothing draws a crowd like a Wegmans store opening. In May, with social distancing top of mind, Wegmans said it would not disclose specific opening dates of its Harrison, N.Y.; Tysons Corner, Va.; and West Cary, N.C., stores set to open this year, but rather share “a targeted time frame” for new store openings.

But earlier this week, Wegmans announced its West Cary store would open on July 29.

While the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer’s last North Carolina opening in Raleigh drew some 3,000 shoppers who waited in line to be the first inside, Wegmans officials say they’re ready to welcome shoppers to West Cary with a host of safety measures in place.

“We previously said that we would not provide an exact date; however, given the number of employees, contractors and vendors involved in a grand opening, we knew the date would likely become public, regardless,” Laura Camera of Wegmans Food Markets told WGB via email. “In addition, we received an overwhelming number of requests from our North Carolina customers asking us to share a date, so we rethought how we could do that, given that safety will absolutely come first."

“Our West Cary team has a plan in place to maintain social distancing while also sharing the excitement of the store opening with our customers,” Camera added.

Some of the creative ways Wegmans is helping customers to shop safely, social distance and reduce human contact at the West Cary store include a Live Wait Line Feed, a live camera that allows shoppers to see if there’s a line to enter the store; enhanced safety measures and deep cleanings; and the placement of visual indicators promoting social distancing at registers throughout the store.

To further minimize contact, Wegmans is offering its Scan App, which allows shoppers to scan and bag their groceries while they shop.

Wegmans is communicating its deep cleaning protocols on its West Cary store website. “To ensure a safe environment for all our employees and customers, we’re committed to going above and beyond what is required,” says the site. “We have enhanced our sanitation of high-contact touch points and increased the frequency of our everyday sanitation practices.”

Hand-sanitizer stations are available throughout the store and Wegmans’ cashiers have been instructed to sanitize their workspace and hands in between each customer. Plexiglass shields are also installed at all Wegmans registers.