Wegmans In Northborough Crossing: First Look

What I thought would be a note of interest for the Metrowest community, a little detail on the coming Wegmans, has turned into an article that has been popular here on the blog for sometime. Apparently, I'm not the only one who had a passing interest in a new competitor on the grocery store scene. So, I thought I do a brief little overview, and comparison, of where things now stand, after my little visit to Wegman's this week.

Wegmans in Northborough Key Differences from other Grocery Stores

I was a little underwhelmed at many of the descriptions that I read about Wegmans. I knew it would be huge, but what would it be like? How do you make a grocery store different? It sounds like a hard question, until you go. There are several differences at Wegmans from other grocery stores. Here are a few.

• Large Organics Section: Wegmans has a very large organics section. Once you're in it, you realize while Whole Foods gets nervous when Wegmans comes to town. It certainly looked to me like the largest Organic section of any other grocery store that I'd seen - bigger than Hannafords, Market Basket, any Stop and Shop, Shaw's, Price Chopper, and probably bigger than Roche Bros (although I shop there less frequently, and know the store less).
• The Food Bazaar: Wegmans has a large "food court" area. But I won't call it a food court because that significantly demeans what it really feels like. Wegmans has a style where they feel you should see everything, how it's made, packed, displayed and so forth. So their "food court" has the feel of an outdoor city market, indoors of course. Complete with sit down cafes. Really, it's exceptionally unique little spot (it reminded me of Manhattan, or a market square in Europe ) and it's FUN! I think the reason people get excited about Wegmans is they make grocery shopping fun. And in today's very utilitarian, but kinda sterile, big box stores, Wegmans stands out. As an example, most grocery stores have a lobster tank. Wegmans had a lobster tank, but with a 5 or 6 lb lobster. Have you ever seen a 5 lb lobster? The claws are like someone's shoes. It was really cool. Both my 3 year-old son and I enjoyed that.
• People: You can go through all the aisles of a Stop and Shop and maybe see one, or two staff. Not at Wegmans. In the deli, bakery, fish and cheese areas, there are so many staff you feel like you're at a series of specialty stores - not at a grocery store. Again, fun. I suspect that's exactly the way they like it too.

Where is Wegman's in Northborough?

Here's a map.

View Grocery Stores of Metrowest in a larger map

 

 

Where does Wegman's Stack Up?

Far from scientific, this is just one man's opinion on the various markets in Metrowest. (And for those who are skeptical, yes, I do food shopping for my household).

	Food Bazaar	Organics	Prices-Organics	Regular food prices	Fruits and Veges
Wegmans	Best	Large Section	Very Good	Average	Good
Hannaford	No	Small Section	Expensive	Best	Best
Market Basket	No	Not a focus	Expensive	Best	Best
Stop and Shop	No	Small Section	Expensive	Average	Needs Work
Roche Bros	Small one	Large Section	Expensive	Expensive	Average
Price Chopper	No	Small Section	Expensive	Good	Good
Shaw's	No	Small Section	Expensive	Average	Average
Whole Foods	No	Large Section	Expensive	Expensive	N/A
Trader Joes	No	Large Section	Very Good	Average	N/A
BJ's	No	No	N/A	Best	Good, but limited

 

Food Shopping In Metrowest: from Wegmans to Bj's

So, here's a little summary on each store:

Wegmans: What they have: Everything.  Why you should go: To rediscover the FUN of food.  Try something new, and learn something different. Can you save a little money at some other stores? Yes, but if you like variety, organics, and taking the dreary out of food shopping, you can't beat Wegmans. Once the staff gets trained and the initial "rush" of traffic winds down, the long waits in line I went through will be a thing of the past, I'll bet.  However, the store is so large, don't expect you can "run in" and do your shopping.  It's an event.

 

Oh yeah: Wegmans has Wine and Beer too. FUN!

Hannaford: What they have: Your basic groceries - and value.  It take a little effort, but there are usually plenty of deals at Hannaford.  I find shopping there the easiest, most cost effective, and I thought it was clearly best in Metrowest.  The deals at Hannaford are still the best, and their fruits are very, very good, and last a long time at home.  They'll still get the majority of my food dollars.  Why you should go: Great generics and daily deals will save you serious dough.

 

Market Basket: Market Basket is like Hannaford, good deals, good fruits and veges, similar food items, but the stores are not as nice or as pleasing.  My wife loves them, but the Ashland store is too far for me - I'll stick with Hannaford.  Why you should go: Arguable the freshest fruits and vegetables in Metrowest. Usually longer lines and less helpful staff.

 

Stop and Shop: There are many Stop and Shops throughout Metrowest.  Their convenience, for most of us, is unparalleled, but they lost me because the fruits and vege section is just not very good.  Shortages, produce that doesn't last at home, just disappointing.  You deal with it, until you find something better.  If it was super cheap, you'd deal with it more, but it's not.  Why you should go: Time is against you.

 

Roche Bros.: My Mom's favorite store for years, Roche has high quality items.  They also have high quality prices.  They do run specials, but only on limited items, and most items are quite pricey.  The new store in Westborough is very nice, with a nice coffee cafe in the opening, but worth the extra prices for the same food?  Not for me.  Why you should go: Great stores, great service.

 

Price Chopper: The new Price Chopper in Shrewsbury is a very nice store.  It's not Wegman's though.  I'm sure the new one in Hopkinton will be similar to one the one in Shrewsbury.  It's very similar to Hannaford, but has fewer "great deals", IMHO.  Why you should go: A solid place to shop, but not a standout in any one area.

 

Shaw's:  A nicer Stop and Shop, not too many left in Metrowest.  Why you should go: It's next door. If it's not next door, I'm not sure you should.

 

Whole Foods: Like Roche Bros, a nice change a pace that comes with a healthy change in price.  Lot's of Organics, but tough on the wallet for every day shopping.  The closest one to me is in Framingham, which means it has the added negative of being difficult to get to.  Why you should go: You care a great deal about food, and price is no object.

 

Trader Joe's: Trader Joes prides itself on unique food items, and passionate staff.  While I feel it's hard to do "day to day" food shopping there, people who prefer Traders Joes are usually very outspoken about it.  Their unique business model allows them to be price competitive on the items they wish to be.  Why you should go: It's not like any other store.

 

BJ's: Last on this list as they are really a "big box store with food" as opposed to a grocery store, I nevertheless buy quite a bit of food their.  The brands I like of coffee, cereal, pasta sauce, and many other items, plus the cheapest deli in the area (even better than Wegmans and Hannaford) make BJ's  worth a stop from time to time.  The new store, also at Northborough Crossing, is a larger version of the one in Westborough, and much like the one in Foxborough, which also has a gas station.  For the true bargain hunter, BJ's has the most consistent prices on staples.

 

 

 

Do Good Things Today!

Matt Heisler