New York City food enthusiasts and loyal Wegmans shoppers, the wait is finally over! The much-awaited Wegmans grocery store in Manhattan officially opened its doors on Wednesday morning, marking a significant moment for grocery shopping in the city. Located at 770 Broadway, at the vibrant intersection of Astor Place and Lafayette Street in Greenwich Village, this 87,500 square-foot supermarket spans two lower levels, promising a brand new shopping experience for Manhattan residents.
The opening sparked considerable excitement, with shoppers eager to be among the first to explore the new Wegmans location. “Well, coming from Rochester, we’re known for a few things: I would say that would be Kodak, garbage plates and Wegmans. So when a new one opens up, I have to show up,” shared Jordan White, a shopper who traveled from Rochester, Wegmans’ hometown, and waited outside before the 9 a.m. opening, highlighting the chain’s dedicated fanbase.
Store manager Matt Dailor expressed his enthusiasm prior to the opening, stating, “We know our customers can’t wait to come see what we have in store and our employees have been training, in some cases, for over a year to get ready for this day.” He further described the new Wegmans Astor Place store as “a celebration of food and people,” setting high expectations for the customer experience.
Located in the historic Wannamaker Building, the Wegmans Lafayette Street store replaces the former Astor Place Kmart. The entrance is conveniently situated on Lafayette Street between 8th and 9th streets, making it easily accessible for shoppers in the Greenwich Village and surrounding neighborhoods. Wegmans emphasized its commitment to the local community by hiring over 600 employees, with a majority sourced directly from the New York City area.
The new Wegmans in Manhattan is set to offer an extensive range of food options, including “made-to-order and packaged Mezze options, inspired by a Mediterranean diet,” catering to health-conscious consumers. Beyond traditional grocery offerings, customers can look forward to fresh sushi, custom-made salads, sandwiches, hot soups, pizzas, and wings, along with a variety of hot Asian cuisine choices. Seafood lovers will appreciate the department’s focus on fresh catches, with deliveries from east coast and U.S. ports, complemented by fish flown in multiple times weekly from the renowned Toyosu Fish Market in Japan, ensuring premium quality and variety.
While the main grocery store is now open to the public, Wegmans is also planning to introduce an on-site dining room in the first half of 2024. This exciting addition will feature a sushi bar and a champagne and oyster bar, promising to become a destination for dining as well as grocery shopping.
Wegmans, already operating a successful Brooklyn location since 2019, is consistently recognized as a top grocery retailer. It recently secured the #2 spot in Food & Wine’s ranking of America’s best grocery stores and has been celebrated as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for an impressive 26 consecutive years, ranking fourth in 2023. The opening of Wegmans Lafayette Street further solidifies its commitment to providing exceptional grocery experiences and high-quality food to the New York City community.
