Whole Foods Developer Calls Out Wegmans in Site Dispute

The developer of a proposed Whole Foods Market in the heart of Wegmans country has taken a novel approach to winning public sentiment for the project, which has been embroiled in ongoing legal battles.

A “coming soon” billboard marking the site of the development in Brighton, N.Y., has been altered so as to say the project is “pending Wegmans' new lawsuits”—a passive-aggressive shot at the local food retail rival its developer alleges is behind at least some of the public opposition.

Development battles over new stores—some with incumbent retailers joining or backing community opposition—are not uncommon, especially in densely developed places like the Northeast. Skirmishes over the Whole Foods Center project in Brighton, a suburb of Wegmans’ Rochester, N.Y., headquarters, have been ongoing for more than a year.

Developer Daniele Management & Development expects the store to open in spring 2020, according to its website, but progress has been beset by delays associated with legal challenges.

According to local reports, residents concerned with traffic, zoning procedures and with the classification of some land on the site property brought a lawsuit against Daniele last year that was dismissed. An appellate court ruled last week, however, that parts of the suit can be reconsidered, apparently triggering the developer to make public its contention that Wegmans has been behind the delays.

In a statement provided to WHEC news, Wegmans said: “Our position on the impact of this project has not changed and has been made clear to the town of Brighton and the [Department of Transportation], and it’s one shared by hundreds of residents and businesses. We are sticking with our decision to no longer respond to the developer’s allegations, nor will we comment further on this project.”