A Wegmans in Johnson City, NY. Photo by Flickr user Chris Waits
Danny Wegman, third-generation supermarket magnate and Wegmans chairman, recently signed a long-term lease on the space which previously housed Bed, Bath & Beyond at 1932 Broadway, between 64th and 65th streets.
Advertisement
The New York Post was first to report the lease signing, and while the amount Mr. Wegman agreed to pay for the approximately 58,900 square foot space isn’t known publicly, sources told the outlet it was “a blended $3.5 million” per year.
Beth Rosen, executive vice-president for Ripco Real Estate which oversaw the deal, confirmed that a Wegmans supermarket would open up at the location.
“It’s great news for everyone,” Rosen said, adding that an opening date is not yet known. “It’s uncertain. They have a lot of work to do. But as soon as possible.”
Rosen didn’t say if or how this Wegmans would be different from the other stores, including the one which opened in Astor Place last year, but confirmed reports that it would include a sushi area. “They plan on having sushi,” she said.
Mandee Puleo, a spokesperson for Wegmans, confirmed in a written statement that Mr. Wegman recently signed a lease for the space with Glenwood Management. She noted the location had been considered for a supermarket before the Astor Place address became available last year.
“Prior to opening our Astor Place store, we were working with Glenwood to lease the space at 1932 Broadway. When that didn’t pan out, we had the opportunity to sign the lease for Astor Place. Shortly after we committed to Astor Place, the 1932 Broadway space became available, however the timing wasn’t right, as we were focused on getting our Astor location designed, permitted, and open to the public,” Puleo said.
“Following the Astor Place opening, Danny Wegman learned the 1932 Broadway space was still available. He restarted negotiations and recently signed a long-term lease for the space,” Puleo added.
Now, it seems, the time is right and by all appearances, it’s full speed ahead.
Advertisement
Of the UWS location, Rosen said it’s a great neighborhood for a Wegmans and the demographics are a good fit. The area “has a great customer profile. It’s a great location,” she said.
The multi-level space at 1932 Broadway sits below the luxury apartment tower the Grand Tier, which has pricey one to four-bedroom apartments.
The upscale supermarket chain was founded in 1916 by brothers John and Walter Wegman. It currently has more than 110 stores in the northeast. The first in NYC was opened in the Brooklyn Navy Yard almost five years ago, followed by the much-anticipated downtown location last October.
I used to be very excited about Wegmans until the one in Astor Place opened. Looks like it’s just another super overpriced grocery store :-(.
Haha. That is literally the FIRST complaint I have read about the Astor Place store. People have been universal in their praise of it. Hmmmmmm.
Someone, somehow needs to teach Wegmans management to teach their floor crew how to make sandwiches that people will pay $15 and $19 for in NYC….and they DO NOT include a miserly slice-or-two of protein (meat) and slice-or-two of cheese and BOOM…..there’s your sandwich with some sprouts and unripe tomato slices thrown in for good measure. I was appalled at the sheer penny-pinching that goes on with their prepared food concoctions at the Astor Place location wondering how even well-heeled NYU students could afford paying so much for so little. Put some heft in your sandwiches, guys, or don’t bother making them!
Ditto for the mouth-breathers over at Morton-Williams — no sense of what or how to sell to middle class customers. Let’s make things as cheaply as possible and then grossly overcharge for them – that’s their motto.
That’s going to be one HUGE supermarket!!
I hope that awful, headache inducing fake chemical “potpourri” signature BB&B stench eventually dissipates from that location…
Wegman’s is breaking out all over. Here in Norwalk CT, 40 miles outside NYC, they’ll be building a new road and garage to accomodate their store on a strip that already has two huge supermarkets. Bigger crowds means fresher foods!