How to Shop at Wegman's

The Fredericksburg Wegman's opened on Fathers' Day with a packed parking lot all day long. The steady crowds continued throughout the following weekend drawing in literally tens of thousands. One of the largest gatherings of people since Barrack Obama's campaign stop in the burg.

Months before more than 5,000 job applicants turned out to the Wegman's application and interview frenzy. The nearby Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center dreams of having this many people turn out to an event!
The craziest thing about the masses of people who have flocked to the Wegman's grand opening week is how un-crowded it felt but the experience can be overstimulating.

Walking into the main entrance Wegman's looks like your typical grocery store but turning through the interior doors the produce market, which is reminiscent of the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, dwarfs the shoppers with massive fruit and vegetable displays.

To say entering Wegman's is like being transported to another world sounds like an opulent marketing slogan but when you go into the Fredericksburg Wegman's it doesn't feel anything like 2009 retail. They have 139,000 square feet of retail floor space, larger than many Super Wal-marts which average 100,000 square feet in total. Wegman's Food Market feels like you have just come through the gates of a medieval walled city into a thriving town square with all the modern conveniences.

Looking to left customers catch a glimpse of the grocery side of Wegman's. This side of the store houses the traditional grocery items, a pharmacy and a convenience store sized areas of magazines, books, kitchen equipment and small furniture.

Directly ahead of shoppers coming through the entrance is the vegetable and produce department which goes all the way to the back of the store. The front of this department has locally grown produce and specials. A stroll deeper into produce will take you through fruits and more durable vegetables like onions and potatoes. Many fruits and vegetables and most noticeably the lettuces are along the two walls of this section. Organic products abound but unlike most grocery stores they are not lumped together nor are they displayed right next to their non-organic counter part.

Turning right shoppers first approach the prepared food Market Cafe which also houses the meat, seafood , deli and deserts areas. This side of the store is an amazing banquet of foods that would shame a king's feast. back toward the front of the store, further to the right of the entrance, customers find buffet style hot foods and Market Cafe seating that continues upstairs to the patio and observation deck that looks out over the store.

The layout of Wegman's is marketing genius and the employees seem competent. Rather than having legions of new employees stumbling their way through a new store several experienced employees Wegman's employees have been scheduled in from other stores such as Potomac Mills which is the closest. Over all the Fredericksburg Wegman's is a great combination of customer ergonomics and up-selling. Grocery prices at Wegman's are very reasonable and even cheaper than several other area grocery stores but the Market Cafe prices are gourmet.

Before you go to the Fredericksburg Wegman's you might consider checking out their web site which like the store has much more to offer than just the weekly sales flyer. On-line you can sign up for a Wegman's Shopping Club Card, browse the store and see inventory levels on specific products, create shopping lists, find menus and recipes and find health and diet information for living well.

The first visit to the Fredericksburg Wegman's may be overstimulating. Consider taking your Wegman's shopping experience in several visits rather than trying to enjoy everything at once.

Navigating you grocery shopping, dining at the Market Cafe, visiting the Pharmacy and shopping the non-grocery items are best split up between several visits. The store offers a convenient design that facilitates this strategy allowing customers to turn left and be frugal or turn right and take advantage of spectacular chef prepared culinary delights. If you have not registered on-line for your Wegman's Shopping Club Card be sure to get one on your first visit. Not only does the card magically discount several item in the store a swipe of it at the cash register also puts your receipt on-line in your account for later review!

Use the map. Be sure to pick up a store directory when you come in and allow yourself plenty of time. Navigating the store, finding what you are looking for, and checking out are pleasant experiences once you get past the overwhelming idea of 150,000 square feet and take your time.

Ask for assistance. Wegman's employees are there to serve you. If you need anything at all ask easily identifiable employees wearing Wegman's polo shirts. You can also ask the army of the chefs you will find in the Market Café. Another less preferred option is to go to customer service which is located in front of the long line of cash registers to the left of the store. Wegman's does not automatically take your groceries out to your car but they do offer an escort to your car upon request.

Experiencing the Fredericksburg Wegman's slowly will yield the best experience for most shoppers.
Doubtless the Fredericksburg Wegman's will become the regular food bazaar for many loyal customers. It is less certain if shoppers will pass by Giant and Bloom to do quicker shopping but there is little doubt that Wegman's is living up to their glossy advertising promises and as strange as it sounds Wegman's will bring a little more tourism to Fredericksburg, Virginia