Wegmans is looking into opening up locations in the city of Boston but officials are admitting to being apprehensive about the move.
"In some ways, coming to Boston is terrifying,' Wegmans chief executive Danny Wegman said in late March during a speech before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, according to The Boston Globe. "Going from 130,000 feet to 70,000, you're making an enormous amount of guesses. This is a big deal for us.'
Last October, the Rochester, N.Y.-based company, which has 72 stores, opened its first store in Massachusetts in Northborough, measuring 138,000 square feet. In Spring 2013, a 140,000 square foot store is scheduled to open in Burlington, MA. In Fall 2013, a third location, measuring only 70,000 square feet, is due to open in Newton, about eight miles outside of Boston. Representing Wegmans' smallest opening in a decade, Newton is expected to serve as a model for potential Boston locations.
"It is a new design for us, a new concept for us,' Jo Natale, a Wegmans spokeswoman, told the Globe at the time the Newton opening was announced in December. "It's a great location in a densely populated area that is close to Boston.'
While equally praised for its friendly staff, a scaled-down Wegmans may dilute the expansive selections that the chain is known for. A typical Wegmans has 70,000 items compared with about 45,000 at a traditional supermarket. Its enormous displays of cheeses, chocolates, wines and other categories would likely be shrunk. The Newton location will still feature a Market Café, its popular sit-down area featuring prepared foods offerings.
The Globe report noted that at 70,000 square feet, the store would still be larger than most New England supermarkets.
Before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wegman indicated the Wegmans was "looking at a couple of sites' in the city of Boston and reports indicated locations in the South End and Fenway neighborhoods were being scouted.
While admitting some trepidation, the CEO told the audience that he is "fascinated" with the Boston region because it is the most highly educated and densely populated market the chain has entered, according to the Globe.
"We believe we belong in Boston, not just in the suburbs,' Mr. Wegman said.