Wegmans - the gem of many east coast towns

One of the best things about returning to my home town is being able to go to Wegmans every day.  If you've ever lived near a Wegmans or known someone that has, then you probably already know how fanatical people are about it.  If you've never heard of Wegmans, I'll try to explain.

Simply put, Wegmans is a supermarket.  Yes, many people think we Wegmans fans are crazy when we say that, but it's not just any supermarket.  Over the years, this family-run private company has honed its brand and cultivated loyal customers.  Its private label products are sometimes more sought after than the brand name alternatives.  Customers trust the store to provide quality products, reasonable prices, and great service.  Produce is often locally-sourced, and they have a huge selection of prepared foods and kits that make your own home cooking and party preparation easier.

Because pretty much all the new stores (and several of the renovated old ones) are built in the "super" style, there's tons of seating, making Wegmans a great place to grab a meal with family or friends and just hang out.  For your entrée, you can select what you like from the food bar or choose something from one of the many food stations (subs, pizza, sushi, burritos).  Their $6 meals are a great deal, which include one entrée and two sides.  When you're done with your entrée, you can stop by the patisserie and grab some cake, or cookies, or any of the other beautiful and delicious desserts made on premise.  To wash down all that goodness, grab a latte from the coffee bar.

Oh, and did I mention there's wifi?

Over the past decade, this company has expanded without compromising the experience expected by its original Upstate New York clientele.  That's great news for all those kids that grew up and moved to New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Maryland.  Coming soon, there's even going to be a Wegmans in NYC.  For now, here are all the places you can find this amazing store.

So the next time you're near a place that has Wegmans, go visit.  Or if you're driving by one on a road trip, it's worth getting off at the exit to check it out.