Wegmans breaks ground in Charlotte as eager fans celebrate long-awaited arrival
After years of rabid anticipation, mostly by Charlotte transplants, Wegmans supermarket is finally under construction in Charlotte.
On Wednesday morning, Tim Goldbach of Indian Land, S.C., snapped photos of the site at 11550 N. Community House Road. Goldbach says he comes out every three or four weeks to check on the progress.
Wearing a Josh Allen No. 17 Buffalo Bills jersey and a team baseball cap, the Buffalo native said he’s looking forward to being less than 10 minutes for Wegmans. He misses the store’s offerings, such as its chocolate cake and cheese cave.
“Wegmans is the Disney of grocery stores,” Goldbach said excitedly. “A year from today, at 2 o’clock in the morning, I’ll be here in this parking lot waiting to walk into the store with my grocery list to do my shopping at Wegmans for the first time.”
An invite-only groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday for the grocery store on the east side of Ballantyne. Wegmans Ballantyne store will be the Rochester, N.Y.-based company’s first location in Charlotte. The south Charlotte store is expected to open next fall.
“I’m more than thrilled to be inviting you all back here in roughly 12 months to welcome you in as customers,” vice president of real estate Dan Aken said during the ground breaking.
Wegmans is investing $34.7 million in the 112,162-square-foot store, a Mecklenburg County building permit filing shows. Wegmans purchased the over 14-acre property for $5.5 million in January, Mecklenburg County property records show.
Wegmans has partnered with local general contractor Frampton Construction Co. as the builder. The project will create more than 250 construction jobs, Wegmans said.
Wegmans plans to hire about 450 people at the Charlotte grocery store. The majority of hiring begins about six months from opening, Aken previously told the Observer.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell said her first job at age 15 was at a grocery store. Her children all had grocery store jobs in high school, she said. And this new store near a high school, will provide jobs for teens.
“I really see how this a place where you can rise up, there’s a pathway for mobility,” said Rodriguez-McDowell, who also chairs the Economic Development Committee.
What people are saying about Wegmans in Charlotte
After years of speculation by Northeast transplants and others around town, Wegmans confirmed plans in April 2024 that it would be coming to Charlotte. Aken said then that Wegmans had received hundreds of requests for a store in the Charlotte area.
“I’m sure there’s going to be hundreds of people here for the opening,” Goldbach said.
A Facebook group named “Bring Wegmans to Charlotte” was created nine years ago and has nearly 8,000 followers.
Last month, Ren Jones asked: “Are we tailgating for the grand opening?” to overwhelming responses of “Yes” and “I’m in.”
“I already told my boss I was taking the day off work so I could be there for grand opening! I mean business!,” Rachel Moore said.
Some even proposed camping overnight for the opening. “I plan to pack the dogs in the car & sleep in the parking lot overnight!” Geri Rosman said.
As Wegmans farthest store in the South, it’s also drawing people from out of state.
“Planning on driving up from Bethlehem, Georgia for opening, stay at hotel and go back the next day,” Maureen Gubbins said. “Will be easier to stock up on groceries than driving to Chapel Hill for them. Can’t wait.”
In a separate online poll Aug. 14 that asked “who is seriously considering tailgating for grand opening?” 70% said yes likely and 30% said maybe.
Others, though, like Kevin Lasher said he plans to stay away from the store for a month after it opens, to which Tim Scroger agreed. “I’ve seen two open when I lived in Pennsylvania. Lines out the door. I can wait a month,” he said.
About Wegmans grocery stores
Wegmans already is looking to expand in the Charlotte market with three to five stores, Aken previously told the Observer. Wegmans is considering a couple dozen locations including SouthPark, Huntersville and Cornelius.
Wegmans opened its first store in North Carolina six years ago in the Raleigh area. It has since captured the No. 6 spot by marketshare in the Triangle area, News & Observer reported, behind Walmart, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Target and Costco, respectively.
The 108-year-old, family-owned Wegmans supermarket chain has about 5,400 employees and 110 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Delaware and Washington, D.C.
Along with traditional grocery options, the store will have a market café with indoor and outdoor seating.
“This day has been a long day coming,” said John Barton, president of developer Northwood, which owns 530-acres in Ballantyne.
Discussions with Wegmans had been taking place “very quietly” for eight years, Barton said.
“We’re very happy that this is the first location that they picked Ballantyne,” he said. “It’s going to be great for the community and we’re very glad you’re here.”
Charlotte’s grocery store competition
Wegmans will face robust competition from nearly 730 grocery stores, including expansions by Publix and Sprouts Farmers Market, to capture a piece of the $10.4 billion market in the Charlotte region.
Discount giant Walmart has dominated the field for six years, followed by Matthews-based grocer Harris Teeter and Salisbury-based Food Lion.
Wegmans will definitely steal shoppers from nearby grocers, grocery guru Phil Lempert previously told the Observer, saying, “I would not want to be within a mile of the Wegmans store.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Wegmans breaks ground in Charlotte as eager fans celebrate long-awaited arrival."
