Wegmans set to open 120,000-square-foot store in Short Pump this Sunday

With only a few final touches remaining, Wegmans Food Markets is set to open its second Richmond area store, a 120,000-square-foot location in Short Pump, this Sunday, August 7th. Located in the West Broad Marketplace shopping center adjacent to the recently-opened Cabela’s, the grocery store joins the company’s Midlothian location, which opened in May.

The store will offer restaurant-quality foods prepared by Executive Chef James Orr, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and his culinary staff of 130. Options will include everything from fresh sandwiches, pasta bowls, and salads to hot soup, fresh sushi, and other chef creations. The food bars are mix and match, with hot and cold self-serve stations featuring entrees and sides, international cuisine, homestyle and vegetarian options – all for in-store dining in the Market Café seating area or takeout.

Chef Orr will also oversee The Pub, the in-store restaurant and bar that serves classic pub food with a twist: snacks and sharings, fresh salads, artisan sandwiches and burgers, hearty entrees and a kids menu. Beverages include craft brews like “Evelyn,” a Wegmans Pub-exclusive session IPA brewed in collaboration with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, ciders, wine by the glass, specialty cocktails and sangria.

Short Pump Store Manager Todd Strassner, a 34-year veteran of the company, says he’s constantly humbled by reception Wegmans receives when entering new communities.

“As a manager you dream of opening a new store, getting it up and running, building a team and developing a culture,” Strassner says. “Our new employees see in action what it means to respect and care about those you work with, and everyone is empowered to give customers our best.”

In typical Wegmans fashion, the doors will open to shoppers bright and early on Sunday morning at 7:00 AM sharp. The Chesterfield County store’s opening drew hundreds and created traffic jams on Midlothian Turnpike throughout the entire day according to reports.

It’s a reception that the grocer expected as Wegmans’ entrance into the already-crowded Richmond grocery market has been highly anticipated and is predicted by many analysts to shake up the market.

The Short Pump store is Wegmans’ ninth in Virginia and its 90th store overall, and created approximately 550 new full- and part-time jobs. The store will be open every day from 6:00 AM until midnight and is located at 12200 Wegmans Boulevard in Short Pump.

Short Pump Store Facts

We toured the Midlothian store just before opening in May. If you’ve never been in a Wegmans, the sheer size of the store, depth and breadth of products available, and niche departments available might be enough to overwhelm you. Here’s a full fact sheet from Wegmans with details as to everything one can expect in the Short Pump store to give you a lay of the land.

Fresh from our market

The Pub is Wegmans’ full-service restaurant within the Market Café. It features a bar, plus seating for more than 80. Beverages (local craft brews plus distinctive, food-friendly wines and signature cocktails) are served and chefs prepare dishes to order. The menu includes Wegmans’ signature Egg-Fried Chicken Sandwich along with a mouth-watering variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and weekly specials.

Market Café

Restaurant-quality prepared foods for dine in or take out, including combined indoor and outdoor seating for nearly 300.

The Buzz

Coffee shop with specialty coffee, tea and breakfast sandwiches

Soup Station

With up to six varieties of hot soup

Pizza Shop

Featuring thin-crust pizza, calzones and chicken wings

Old-fashioned Sub Shop

Offering hot and cold subs/wraps, party trays and cookies

Sushi Bar

Sushi is made fresh daily, in a variety of vegetable, cooked and raw made-to-order selections

Veggie Bar

Hot and cold vegetable entrees and sides made fresh throughout the day

Chef’s Case

With ready-to-heat prepared entrees, sides and ‘Choose Your Meal’ selections

Homestyle Bar

With an incredible selection of seasonal family-favorite comfort foods like BBQ and Italian

Asian Bar

Authentic Asian-inspired cuisine featuring Chinese, Thai and Indian recipes

Produce

Wegmans is known for offering an unmatched variety, with hundreds of different conventional and organic fruits and vegetables on any given day. The store provides a Fresh Cut Fruit and Veggie station, where produce is cleaned, cut, and ready to prepare; also offering fresh-squeezed juices. Each store builds strong partnerships with local growers and, in season, offers locally grown fruits and vegetables picked daily and delivered directly to the store.

Seafood

Delivered daily from local ports of the Chesapeake Bay, across the country, and around the world. This department showcases fully traceable and sustainable seafood processed without chemicals. Customers can also have fresh shellfish steamed at no extra charge…lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams, and crabs to go, as well as ready-to-cook entrees. When in season, fresh seafood from Alaska to the eastern shore of the United States is available, including Wegmans’ own oysters, clams, and blue crab meat.

Meat

Ready-to-cook entrees and pre-marinated meats in a variety of flavors to pop in the oven or on the grill. In addition to conventional meat, Wegmans also offers the choice of organic beef, pork, chicken, lamb, bacon, sausage, and Wegmans Food You Feel Good About meats from animals raised free of antibiotics and hormones. Wegmans Angus beef raised regionally near its stores and a dry-aging case will be featured in the meat department at Short Pump.

Foods From Around the World

An incredible selection of Asian and Latino foods, also highlighting Indian, Caribbean, South American, Eastern Mediterranean, British, German, and of course, Italian cuisine.

Nature’s Marketplace

Natural and organic foods, including new and innovative products and a selection of premium and loose-leaf teas. Wegmans offers its own brand of organic products, including fresh organic milk. There are also foods for people with special dietary needs, with a special section of gluten-free grocery, dairy and frozen products. This store includes a “power up your smoothie” section with 16 protein powders and smoothie mix-ins sold by the ounce.

Bakery

European-style artisan breads and rolls, featuring whole grain options and items made with organic ingredients. Other bakery offerings include water-boiled bagels, petite pastries, decorated cakes, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, muffins, and specialty desserts.

Deli

Cold and cured specialty meats and dry sausage products, including Jamon Iberico de Bellota Ham from Spain. Organic deli meats and cheeses are also available sliced to order or pre-packaged.

Kosher

A wide variety of packaged kosher deli, meat, fish, frozen, and grocery products, including fresh bakery items.

Cheese Shop

Specialty and artisan cheeses produced domestically or imported from around the world. This store has a temperature and humidity-controlled misting case and offers premium cheeses aged in the Wegmans Cheese Caves.

Mediterranean Bar

More than 70 items, like imported and domestic olives, hummus, fresh mozzarella, marinated mushrooms, artichokes, roasted peppers, and antipasti.

Wine and Beer

One-stop shopping with an unmatched selection of the best quality and value. Wines range from $6 bottles to offerings from some of the finest wine estates in the world. Customers can rely on knowledgeable customer service and weekly wine tastings to find the perfect pairing. There are also over 1,000 varieties of domestic, craft and imported beers, including ‘Craft Your Own’ six-packs.