Wegmans starting construction on Columbia store

[HowChowBlog]

Wegmans appears ready to start construction of its Columbia supermarket -- at least according to the building permit that Wegmans applied for on June 30, 2009.

An employee of Wegmans Construction in Rochester applied to build a temporary construction trailer at 8895 McGaw Road. That is the site across from Apple Ford where Wegmans has been talking about a new store since at least 2006. This confirms June 2009 reports on the Tales of Two Cities blog that the company was moving forward and thought it had ended legal challenges.

You can check application B09001570 yourself at the Howard County Web site. Just search for all permits on McGaw Road in June 2009.

[chipmoose]

It looks like they are really going to town on the Columbia site in this past week or two... bulldozers have been working leveling the pad for the new store.

[HowChowBlog]

Apparently they got site plan approval in the last week of August.

[sas]

The Wegmans in Hunt Valley has gone way down hill. Many of the different and exciting things are missing. Replaced with a lot of Wegmans brand stufff which is just awful. It is becoming just like Giant or any other stores

[Jeserf]

Just an fyi....and wegmans item that you buy that is not good they will refund your money for if you tell them.

I've never been disappointed with wegmans brand items. In fact, i drive 45 minutes each way just to buy them! However, they will help you if you are dissatisfied unlike Giant.

[HowChowBlog]

Wegmans says -- through Twitter -- that the Columbia store is slated for 2012. The next stage is "off site road improvements."

http://twitter.com/Wegmans/statuses/1...

[dining with doc]

yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[skipper]

Anyone have a progress report?

[HowChowBlog]

They're building on the site. Last I checked, Wegmans hadn't posted an official start date. But I know Wegmans people have emailed and talked about early 2011 opening. No official dates. I hope the snow didn't slow their site preparations.

[Jason1]

The old building's been taken down and removed, and the site has been leveled. I can't tell due to the fence, but I don't think actual construction on the new building has begun yet.

[Mer_Made]

Does anyone have any new news on the Landover store? All I've found on it is a Gazette article from May 15 saying construction was set to begin this summer for a Spring 2010 opening.

[ivysmom]

Whooo Hooo !! Great news - this makes my day !! I, too, am getting tired of driving to Hunt Valley.

[Joe H]

The two Wegmans stores in Gainesville and Fredericksburg are each somewhat bigger than their Fairfax and Dulles stores. They are also not quite as upscale. (cheese dept., wine, etc.) We were actually a bit disappointed in the Gainesville store on a visit a week ago. Fredericksburg is huge and just recently opened.

Regardless, a more middle of the road Wegman's is still far superior to any other grocery store.

[Bob W]

Joe -- I think 99 percent of the people in Gainesville will be quite happy with "their" Wegmans. I made a quick visit a few weeks ago and did just fine. Your last sentence is spot on.

Last night we tried the new Zed's in Gainesville. Pretty darn good. Things are happening in Gainesville.

[Turkeybone]

I was in upstate NY for a number of years and I would definitely say that the Wegmans in Ithaca fits that area a lot more -- a little bit smaller, not as over the top with the size of its beef and fish departments.. but definitely not in any way less quality.. but in general smaller eating areas and less marble. :)

The ones in NJ and Hunt Valley are definitely over the top, though

[keithlb1]

Actually the Gainesville store has a better looking and more organized wine department than the Dulles store. IMO I just think the wines are laid out in a more organized manner. I like any Wegmans store I've been to and am glad to see they're showing the love to our neighbors across the river.

[Joe H]

Dulles' wines overall are much better. Simply there are far more higher end wines along with mid level wines in the Dulles store than in the Gainesville store. The difference is striking.

[Turkeybone]

Well this is good news -- I hate driving out to hunt valley.

So.. you just casually search building permits?

[HowChowBlog]

LOL. No. I have a blog about Howard County food, and someone else posted a comment about the building permit. I just confirmed.