SHORT PUMP, VA, 2016-Aug-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — With only the final touches remaining, Wegmans Food Markets’ soon-to-open Short Pump store is nearly ready to make its debut. The shelves are carefully stocked, 550 friendly and knowledgeable employees trained, shopping carts lined up, and customers anxiously await the chance to peruse the 120,000 sq. ft. supermarket that will become “their” Wegmans. The new store is located at West Broad Marketplace on West Broad St. near North Gayton Rd.
The doors open at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, and not a moment too soon for those who have watched the 100-year-old company’s progress from afar as new stores opened in Northern Virginia, then closer with Fredericksburg and most recently Midlothian. When Wegmans first announced two Richmond-area store sites in 2014, social media lit up with comments like, “Doing the @Wegmans dance with the rest of RVA,” and “I am crying tears of joy.”
Short Pump Store Manager Todd Strassner and his team are humbled by the warm welcome the family-owned company has already received. While the shopping experience at every Wegmans supermarket is reminiscent of a European open-air market, he finds that each store takes on a unique personality and rhythm.
“As a manager you dream of opening a new store, getting it up and running, building a team and developing a culture,” Strassner says. “Our new employees see in action what it means to respect and care about those you work with, and everyone is empowered to give customers our best.” Strassner has embraced this way of working together since his career at Wegmans began 34 years ago.
The Short Pump store will offer restaurant-quality foods prepared by Executive Chef James Orr, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and his culinary staff of 130. Options include everything from fresh sandwiches, pasta bowls and salads to hot soup, fresh sushi and delicious chef creations. The food bars are mix and match, with hot and cold self-serve stations featuring entrees and sides, international cuisine, homestyle and vegetarian options – all for in-store dining in the Market Café seating area or takeout.
Chef Orr also oversees The Pub, an in-store restaurant and bar that serves classic pub food with a twist: snacks and sharings, fresh salads, hand-crafted sandwiches and burgers, hearty entrees and a kids menu. Beverages include craft brews like “Evelyn,” a Wegmans Pub-exclusive session IPA by Hardywood Park, ciders, wine by the glass, specialty cocktails and sangria.
“Months of planning and training will culminate on Sunday when we open the store and demonstrate the things that set Wegmans apart, starting with the incredible customer service our people provide,” said Strassner. “Beyond that, my goal is to delight our customers with unmatched quality and selection, convenience, and consistent low prices.”
The Short Pump store is Wegmans’ ninth in Virginia and its 90th store overall.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 90-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years, ranking #4 in 2016.
Contact Information:
Valerie Fox
Wegmans media relations coordinator
585-720-5713
Source: Wegmans