The familiar smells and dimmed lights inside Wegman’s made the massive store somehow feel cozy even while maneuvering a shopping cart through the maze of people and shelves of food.
This supermarket possesses the well-known, unique quality of being more than a grocery store. Its popularity has finally led to the opening of Harford County’s very own Wegman’s.
Wegman’s is more of a supra-market rather than a supermarket. With over 75 locations in the U.S., its newest location opened in Abingdon, Maryland on Sunday Sept. 18.
Harford County, an ever-growing residential area, welcomed the new store with opened arms, crowding the store long after its grandopening.
On the day of its grand opening, police officers directed customers to the few remaining parking spaces.
When first stepping into the store, choosing a path might be difficult due to the hoards of people and the sheer volume of choices, but going left will take patrons into a circle around the store in which they’ll be able to see everything that the market has to offer. Some words of advice – do not go in there hungry.
The smells of the buffet and bakery hit customers all at once as friendly employees pass out coupons, club cards, and magazines with unique recipes while somehow managing to not be completely obnoxious about it.
While the prepared food aisle is quite affordable, it seems as if customers spend more money on objects such as milk and butter at Wegman’s rather than a market such as Shoprite and Giant. Maybe it’s the allure of the store or the feeling that the products are of more of quality. The prices sure won’t stop shoppers from coming in, though.
The prepared food ranges from Thai to Indian to Chinese, with all of the freshly made food is easily ready to place in boxes of every size and shape. The prepared food area transitions into a sit-down café and bakery on the other side.
While walking down the bakery, it feels akin to a Saturday morning at a farmer’s market, while the aromas of muffins, bagels, freshly baked pretzels, and petit fours combine to create an exotic smell that could match the best marketplace.
Following the bakery, the pleasant array of beautiful flowers catch the shopper’s eye before they find themselves lost between aisles of teas and organizational products that eventually lead up to an enchanting wall of candy dispensers that will make anyone feel like a child again.
Most people don’t view a simple grocery store as a magical place, but a visit to Wegman’s might change their beliefs. It’s a lifestyle, giving families the freshest products and an unforgettable experience.
Eva Bialobrzeski is an A&E editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.