[Ride The WAVE]

Look, give it up, posters...this is an old thread, started 12 YEARS ago about Wegmans, and lookit, they still ain't coming to Florida....


Publix is ALREADY IN their BACKYARD and kicking butt in the Carolina Division, they ain't kicking nobody's butt anywhere close to Florida...I'd want to see how they would do in a booming mega city like Atlanta (where Publix just about owns the town now after a few short years)....or I'd like to see how Wegmans would do in booming/jamming Nashville, where Publix entered the market with firecrackers and continues to EXPAND and make big money.


Wegmans ?? nobody cares here in FLORIDA


Give it up people, give it up.

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by Ride The WAVE

Look, give it up, posters...this is an old thread, started 12 YEARS ago about Wegmans, and lookit, they still ain't coming to Florida....


Publix is ALREADY IN their BACKYARD and kicking butt in the Carolina Division, they ain't kicking nobody's butt anywhere close to Florida...I'd want to see how they would do in a booming mega city like Atlanta (where Publix just about owns the town now after a few short years)....or I'd like to see how Wegmans would do in booming/jamming Nashville, where Publix entered the market with firecrackers and continues to EXPAND and make big money.


Wegmans ?? nobody cares here in FLORIDA


Give it up people, give it up.

Its more for us transplants to muse about what it would be like, than to actually believe they would come here. I was just at a Wegmans last week and after 2.5 years in Florida and I appreciate it more than I ever did when I lived in WNY. The only way Wegmans would come to Florida was if they bought out some Winn Dixie locations or someone else to get some prime real estate, but other much larger companies have tried and failed (Albertsons, Safeway). Kroger inherited a Harris Teeter in Fernandina Beach. Wegmans is slow and steady and does not have the financial wherewithal to go up against Publix with 800 stores, 7 distribution centers and 3 manufacturing facilities blanketing the state. In addition people here, for the most part, love Publix and would be in no hurry to switch.

[TheMartianChick]

I had a conversation some years ago with a Wegmans employee who worked in the real estate division. I asked if there were any plans for Florida (because we planned to relocate) and he explained that they didn't have the infrastructure to support it. They had recently finished the supply hub in Virginia and planned to expand into areas that could be supported by that hub. Florida was simply too far away.

Hubby and I now split our time between NY and Florida. We shop at a mix of Publix, Aldi's and EarthFare. For Floridians who think that Publix is in any way comparable...Think again! We like Publix and think that their offerings are okay. To us, they are like Price Chopper stores but with nicer employees. Publix subs are good, but a Wegman's sub is so much better due to the type of bread that is used. I can eat Publix baked goods but they taste like those from any other grocery store.

I think that some folks don't understand that Wegmans is more than just a place to buy name brand food. The store is a combination restaurant/grocery store/real bakery/pharmacy. It is the place that you stop when you need something quick for dinner but want it to taste like you've been cooking all day. The closest thing to Wegmans' ready-made food that I can find in Florida is at EarthFare! Of course, EarthFare is pricey because it is more of a healthy-foods grocer. One of the reasons why I'd like to have a Wegmans in Florida is that their store brands don't have a lot of preservatives in them. A loaf of their sandwich bread will get moldy as opposed to some of the national brands. I prefer to have food in my food, not preservatives.

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by Ride The WAVE

Look, give it up, posters...this is an old thread, started 12 YEARS ago about Wegmans, and lookit, they still ain't coming to Florida....

Wegmans ?? nobody cares here in FLORIDA


Give it up people, give it up.

Dude calm down...

Originally Posted by Thundarr457

The only way Wegmans would come to Florida was if they bought out some Winn Dixie locations or someone else to get some prime real estate, but other much larger companies have tried and failed (Albertsons, Safeway). Kroger inherited a Harris Teeter in Fernandina Beach. Wegmans is slow and steady and does not have the financial wherewithal to go up against Publix with 800 stores, 7 distribution centers and 3 manufacturing facilities blanketing the state. In addition people here, for the most part, love Publix and would be in no hurry to switch.

Based on what I hear about Wegmans, the Winn-Dixie buildings are too small for a Wegmans by-out. But there are empty K-Marts that may fit the bill. If Kroger ever expands into Florida outside of their investment relationship with Lucky's Market, I wonder if they will do it under the Kroger banner to attract the snowbirds/transplants or under the more Publix-like Harris Teeter banner.

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

I think that some folks don't understand that Wegmans is more than just a place to buy name brand food. The store is a combination restaurant/grocery store/real bakery/pharmacy. It is the place that you stop when you need something quick for dinner but want it to taste like you've been cooking all day. The closest thing to Wegmans' ready-made food that I can find in Florida is at EarthFare! Of course, EarthFare is pricey because it is more of a healthy-foods grocer. One of the reasons why I'd like to have a Wegmans in Florida is that their store brands don't have a lot of preservatives in them. A loaf of their sandwich bread will get moldy as opposed to some of the national brands. I prefer to have food in my food, not preservatives.

It seems as though Earth Fare is the loser so far in regard to the three "Whole Foods alternatives" that have expanded into Florida, which are Lucky's, Sprouts, and Earth Fare. At least in Orlando. Lucky's is the winner in my opinion. It seems like all of the Lucky's in Orlando are hovering between 4 and 5 stars on Yelp while Sprouts and Earth Fare are hovering between 3 and 4 starts, with Earth Fare receiving some harsh reviews.

The big Publix in SODO Orlando has always been a zoo regardless of new competition in the area. Super Target and Walmart Market have opened up nearby in the past decade and, at least anecdotally, haven't impacted them much. Then there's the local Freshfields Farm (meat and produce), which is also a madhouse on the weekends and thankfully still appears to be doing well. Lucky's opened right next door in January or so and is always packed the handful of times I've been there. However, I've been to the new Earth Fare in the area twice on a SUNDAY afternoon and it's dead in comparison to Lucky's and the big Publix. It's next to the main campus of a hospital and auxiliary medical buildings/offices, so maybe weekday lunchtime and post-work rush are their peaks. While I'm sure Earth Fare is fine for purchasing items to cook, I've been let down by the prepared items I've bought there. I've forced myself to settle for something there because I didn't feel like going anywhere else lol. They do have the best selection of whole bean coffee in the area and even matching or exceeding Whole Foods, a huge bulk spice selection (which is foolishly placed in the personal care and supplements area instead of next to the SPICE aisle), and they will run specials on grass-finished beef at the same price as grain-finished beef at the other stores. I hope they do well.

[Thundarr457]

We love Freshfield Farms, too bad its so far away from us. Its a 50/50 butcher shop - fresh produce. There is one in Orlando and one in Jax. Jax is getting a Sprouts on July 10th, I always love a new place to shop.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Thundarr457

We love Freshfield Farms, too bad its so far away from us. Its a 50/50 butcher shop - fresh produce. There is one in Orlando and one in Jax. Jax is getting a Sprouts on July 10th, I always love a new place to shop.

Yep. Freshfield Darms is BY FAR my favorite grocery store in the state. Glad to have one nearby.

[ByeByeLW]

Can we talk about Ohrbach’s , Bamberger’s or Alexander’s?

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by ByeByeLW

Can we talk about Ohrbach’s , Bamberger’s or Alexander’s?

I remember Ohrbach's, Gimbels and E.J. Korvette (I used to buy my Aurora Model Motoring cars there). It was my favorite store when we went back to NYC. Ohrbacks had great clothes at good prices. Gimbels used to have price wars with Macy's and it was a blast watching the prices go down and down and down.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by boy3365

It seems as though Earth Fare is the loser so far in regard to the three "Whole Foods alternatives" that have expanded into Florida, which are Lucky's, Sprouts, and Earth Fare.

I would have to agree and having known Earth Fare from my many times visiting their store in Asheville was excited to see their arrival. However the corporate brass botched the design elements for expansion so badly to the point where it bears little resemblance to the rustic/crunchy vibe see in NC, and instead is conceptually a look CVS might adopt if they planned on selling groceries also. Just bored to tears...and I will say Sprouts is right on their heels too though with a very underwhelming concept as well.

[tonyp22]

In my travels to CO, AZ, and FL I'd been a big fan of Sprouts as an alternative to Whole Foods (I love Whole Foods, but alternatives are always welcome). I found their prices to be a bit lower in general, and the quality and variety is very nice, IMO. A Sprouts finally just opened up here in my (current) home State of NJ, and I was rather shocked to see how much more expensive many of the items were compared to my two Whole Foods locations nearby. In other places - especially in CO - Sprouts always made me feel like I was getting a better deal along with an equally planet friendly vibe.