(yes, some of us are excited by food stores.)

I went to the new Wegman's in Parsippany/Hanover/wherever today. I used to work down the street, on Entin Rd.

I was duly impressed. A great amusement park of food.

High points:

enormous prepared food and dine-in section. have no idea about quality though.
huge liquor store
they had duck legs
excellent selection of cured meats, esp. Italian. I actually found a new meat. (Finocchiona?)
just you know, general impressive bigness
3 dozen eggs for 2.99
5 cases of soda $10
good selection of fresh herbs

Low points:

The deli selection doesn't compare to ShopRite Livingston. They only had one specialty Turkey! The horror!
produce prices were meh - some stuff quite expensive (3.99 for Italian green peppers?)
couldn't find a great tomato
produce section in general was uninspiring
it's maybe too big, (esp. for an old man with a bad knee)
too crowded. I thought 6pm on Sunday would be a slow time. Nope. Though checkout line was very short.

I didn't hit the general grocery aisles too much, so no comment there. Except we did go to the salad dressing/mayo  aisle, and I was again surprised at how SR Liv. has a much bigger selection.

I understand now why SR Livingston did their huge and recent remodel. They have to stave off Wegman's. I think SR will do OK. Quality/price wise they definitely compete. Wegman's will be a rare trip for me.

Nobody Goes There Anymore, It’s Too Crowded

Everyone doing backflips over Wegman's. I don't get it. How does it compare to Fairway on 125th or Stew Leonard's in CT? I get that it's more local than either of those but the cheerleading seems a bit superfluous. I just don't get it. 

I know drummerboy sums up my experiences of Wegman's in several different locations.

I have been generally impressed with Shoprite Essex Green and when I've talked with management there of people in the butcher shop, they are always intent on making me happy!  What's not to like?!?

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

We haven't been to the new one, but we kept hearing people rave about Wegman's in general so when we were in the area we checked out the one in Woodbridge and weren't very impressed. We didn't really even buy anything. I think we found one or two things that we picked up since we were there. Oddly the new store is barely closer than the one in Woodbridge, so if Wegman's is so great why weren't they going there before?

The thing that put us off the most was the prices. It struck me as more like Whole Foods prices than what I'd consider 'normal'. As former Washington Heights residents we would often visit the Stew Leonard's in CT and that was our favorite 'destination' grocery store. And yeah, we'd do the Fairway in Paramus - not the one in Harlem too much though. It was a little cramped and they their organization is somewhat weird. I think we enjoyed those stores more.

I'm sure we'll check it out again, as it seems like we might never see some of our neighbors anymore as they're all there. Peer pressure never stops!

it's a clone of the other NJ  Wegmans  - I liked it, but there's certainly no reason to drive that far, unless of course you work in that area, too.

annielou said:

Everyone doing backflips over Wegman's. I don't get it. How does it compare to Fairway on 125th or Stew Leonard's in CT? I get that it's more local than either of those but the cheerleading seems a bit superfluous. I just don't get it. 

Actually not.  Reread drummerboy's critique - seems pretty balanced to me...

I had once lived right in the middle of two Wegmans and went there regularly. Then I moved to Maplewood and whined and whined that there wasn't one close to me any more.  I now moved even further away from any Wegmans and whined some more.  Then I realized, all the things I once always bought in Wegmans, I can no longer eat (e.g., bread, desserts, sushi -- the rice, hot buffet, etc.)  Now I don't whine any more!

I just went.  Meh.  No need to go back.

I'd settle for a local Fairway.

I generally like ShopRite. I think they do a fine job. I'm in the Livingston store a few times a week. (I buy small amounts usually)

But one thing Wegman's has over Shoprite - they sell Near East Tabouleh mix! Bought 4 boxes yesterday.

And though I had none of their prepared dinner foods (the various hot bars) yesterday, the last time I was at a Wegman's, I was very disappointed in their quality. Shoprite, on the other hand, has never disappointed me in their  prepared foods. I'm not saying it's haute cuisine, but it's perfectly acceptable at 7.99/lb for a quick meal if you don't want to cook.

rcarter31 said:

I know drummerboy sums up my experiences of Wegman's in several different locations.

I have been generally impressed with Shoprite Essex Green and when I've talked with management there of people in the butcher shop, they are always intent on making me happy!  What's not to like?!?

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

We went today.  It's yuge!  I had to use one of those scooters to get around.  Lots of prepared food, which we don't buy as a rule.  OK produce--got a nice honeydew and a Florida avocado.  Meat very expensive, and no better than Ashley.  Long lines for meat and fish.  Lots of sushi.  I don't like sushi.  A whole aisle of frozen pizzas.  Restaurants.  Enormous liquor department.  Bakery--  Mr. Lizziecat was too tired to look at the bakery.  In general prices around the same as Kings or Whole Foods, higher than Ashley.  Too big, too much.  I would go there if I happened to be in the area, but I wouldn't make a special effort to get there--it's too far and not that wonderful.

Too tired to look at a bakery?! That can't be possible in my world!

lizziecat said:

We went today.  It's yuge!  I had to use one of those scooters to get around.  Lots of prepared food, which we don't buy as a rule.  OK produce--got a nice honeydew and a Florida avocado.  Meat very expensive, and no better than Ashley.  Long lines for meat and fish.  Lots of sushi.  I don't like sushi.  A whole aisle of frozen pizzas.  Restaurants.  Enormous liquor department.  Bakery--  Mr. Lizziecat was too tired to look at the bakery.  In general prices around the same as Kings or Whole Foods, higher than Ashley.  Too big, too much.  I would go there if I happened to be in the area, but I wouldn't make a special effort to get there--it's too far and not that wonderful.

I think many people are just wowed by the size and selection.  But in the end, for many people the store is just overkill and having been to one, feel no need to go back.  

When I worked in Raritan, I went to the Wegman's there often, for lunch or to do shopping during my lunch break. I recall that the wine prices were very competitive. 

lizziecat said:


 In general prices around the same as Kings or Whole Foods, higher than Ashley.  

I am questioning the order of this list.  Obviously, WF is the most expensive market in the area but I have found Ashley to be consistently more expensive than Kings (leaving aside the fact that the price charged at Ashley is often more than the price listed).

Just my impression.  I'm not going to get into an argument about it.

I agree with Lizziecat... Kings and WF are usually higher than Ashley market.  and agree it is not worth an argument.  

I don't go to Kings, WF or Ashley's, but I'm willing to argue about it.

mikescott said:

I agree with Lizziecat... Kings and WF are usually higher than Ashley market.  and agree it is not worth an argument.  

Ok, argue away -- it will be like one hand clapping

ok. enough arguing.

where the hell can I find a good, locally grown tomato? Is it worth it to make a pilgrimage to WF? Will they have what I'm looking for? Does someone have a backyard garden I can raid?

Lars maybe, though from Facebook it seems like cucumbers are where the bounty lies.

Your best bet is farmers markets. No super market is going to do great with that.

 best place to get a good tomato is at a farmer's market.  

shoot. of course. I forgot about the farmer's markets. I tend to avoid them because they're expensive, but I'll pay for the right tomato.

I'll try to hit S. Orange tomorrow.

=============================================

too bad I can't tolerate cukes in my old age. too gassy.

Gilgul said:

Lars maybe, though from Facebook it seems like cucumbers are where the bounty lies.

Your best bet is farmers markets. No super market is going to do great with that.

I have found that buying tomatoes at TJ's or Ashley that are still on the vine and letting them ripen on the counter makes a fair approximation of the jersey tomatoes my mother grew.  But this time of year, you can begin getting them at farmer's markets.

drummerboy said:

ok. enough arguing.

where the hell can I find a good, locally grown tomato?

Farmers Market - Maplewood on Mondays, Millburn on Tuesdays, South Orange on Wednesdays, no doubt others not far away on the other days.

Klinker said:

I'd settle for a local Fairway.

Parkway to 3 West to 46 West, on the right in Woodland Park/Little Falls. 25 mins from S.O.

Is there a Thursday Farmer's market? I think Friday is West Orange.

yeah, you can always get a fair to reasonable tomato in the supermarket almost any time of year these days. It's not like the old days when every tomato you could buy was pink and hard as a rock - or mushy.

nakaille said:

I have found that buying tomatoes at TJ's or Ashley that are still on the vine and letting them ripen on the counter makes a fair approximation of the jersey tomatoes my mother grew.  But this time of year, you can begin getting them at farmer's markets.

Tomatoes are one of the few produce items I find it worthwhile paying farmers market prices. I can get better corn and melons at ShopRite. Berries are good but I rather go pick my own during the short local season. Same with apples.