Weis Markets readies pair of store remodels in Maryland

Pushing ahead with its capital expenditures plan, regional grocer Weis Markets is starting work on two major store upgrades in Maryland.

Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis said it will complete comprehensive remodels of its supermarkets in Thurmont and on Shank Farm Way in Hagerstown. The projects will include updated interior decor, enhanced service departments and expanded variety across store categories.

Weis announced the planned remodels at the grand opening of a new Gas N’ Go Fuel Center at the Thurmont store on Friday. The new station has six gas pumps, including two diesel pumps, and will operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“We’re excited to celebrate the completion of the Thurmont Gas N’ Go Fuel Center, as it offers our customers another convenient way to redeem their Weis Rewards points,” Maria Rizzo, vice president of marketing and advertising at Weis Markets, said in a statement. “This is the first phase of our Thurmont upgrade. We will begin an extensive remodel to the store this summer. In addition, we will soon begin work on our store on Shank Farm Way in nearby Hagerstown, Maryland.”

In its fiscal 2022 annual report, Weis said it plans capital expenditures of about $150 million for 2023, including the construction of new superstores, store expansions and remodels, the acquisition of sites for future stores, new technology purchases, and distribution facility and transportation fleet upgrades. Carryover projects from 2022 that were delayed due to labor and supply-chain disruptions also are part of the 2023 capex budget.

So far this year, Weis has completed a remodel of its supermarket in Dover, Pennsylvania. The project entailed a refresh of the interior decor, upgrades of the produce and deli sections, the addition of a meal center and a beer and wine cafe, and an expanded assortment throughout the store.

Following a record performance in fiscal 2021, Weis Markets had boosted its capital spending budget by 11% to $150 million for 2022. For the year, the retailer reported that it opened one new store (in Warminster, Pennsylvania) and three new fuel centers, as well as completed 10 remodels, one rebuild and a “record number” of smaller projects. That followed the opening of three replacement stores (in Gap, Bethlehem and Macungie, Pennsylvania) and a new store (in Martinsburg, West Virginia) in 2021, along with 13 major remodels, nine fuel centers and more than 1,100 retail store projects to improve efficiencies and the customer experience.

Currently, Weis Markets operates 197 stores in seven states, including 118 locations in Pennsylvania, 49 in Maryland, nine in New York, nine in Virginia, six in New Jersey, three in Delaware and three in West Virginia. Stores range in size from 8,000 to 71,000 square feet. Of those, 64 stores are over 55,000 square feet, 70 are 45,000 to 54,999 square feet, 46 are 35,000 to 44,999 square feet, 12 are 25,000 to 34,999 square feet and five are less than 25,000 square feet.