Wegmans reportedly interested in Tobin’s First Prize Center

By on April 24, 2012 in Albany

Bunch of claims being made in the thread on reddit regarding Wegman’s entrance into our area, as well as this bizjournals article: Syracuse developer leases Tobin First Prize Center in Albany.

I’m an area sales manager for a DSD company. Rumors are true, plan on more than 1 store in this area.

And even adding more fuel to the fire:

Rumor comes and goes. The site would need a lot of cleanup and there are better places to site it. They considered putting the Home Depot that’s now at Westgate there.

And even from Daniel:

The rumor I heard for that spot was a Whole Foods. Although that seems less likely. Still, you never know.

Anyone know anything definitive? Do we really need more grocery stores?

About andrew

Andrew started Keep Albany Boring in September 2010.
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  • Josh

    Do we need more grocery stores? Nope. But we do need good grocery stores. The issue I have with PC is that it’s consistently… dirty, dated, and poorly managed, with a pretty low selection in most stores. In contrast, Wegmans – where I shopped when I grew up in Rochester – was always just a bit more classy feeling. Even walking into a Wegmans feels like you’re in a clean atmosphere, where no matter what you want, it’s easy to find.

    Competition is good, and right now PC doesn’t have to work too hard to maintain their position as the dominant one in the area. With Wegmans, I see that changing.

  • http://twitter.com/DecisiveReflex Tim Dawkins

    Yes! We always need more grocery stores! More options means more competitive prices in this once wasteland of supermarket variety. Stores like Wegman’s and Whole Foods will put the pressure on other area stores to increase quality both in regard to work environment (Wegman’s is regularly listed as a “Top 100 Company” to work for nationally) and product availability. Plus, Wegman’s Subs!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=70607030 Andrew Cayer

    Wegmans, even the lowest-end Wegmans (which they admittedly will not build as their flagship store in another city), is always at least as clean and well managed as the highest end Price Chopper.
    I’ll be moving back to Rochester within the next week, but I’m happy for Albany if this rumor is true.

  • http://www.bvcphoto.com/ -B

    The amount of cleanup and remediation it would take to turn any part of that into a grocery store is mind-boggling.  I just can’t see it, I would guess building an entirely new structure would be cheaper — but maybe that’s the plan, raze and rebuild.

    • http://keepalbanyboring.com andrew

      I’d assume they would raze and rebuild. There’s no way to rehab that.

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  • Frank

    I’d love a Wegmans here as much as anyone…but I’m a little suspicious as to the factuality of anything posted on Reddit.

  • Sue Tennyson

    Yes, we need a Wegmans because they would blow all 3 chain stores out of the water.

  • Ryepatrick81

    I live a street away from the First Prize Center and residents in West Albany are already saying “NO” to the possibility of a Wegmans.  They will protest it just like they did when Walmart wanted to build there. It is a residential neighborhood and another grocery store is not a good fit for the area.

    I happen to LOVE Wegmans, but as a resident who lives next to the First Prize Center, I will be protesting any grocery store that wants to build there. We have enough grocery stores within two miles (PC, Hannaford, Shoprite, Honest Weight, a few Asian markets)… and many more grocery stores within a 5 mile radius.

    Can someone please think of a good use of that land instead of a huge store with a huge parking lot.

  • Dolly Ott

    If anyone is listening, PLEASE BRING WEGMANS TO ALBANY PLEASE.  My daughter lived in Rochester for several lyears and every time we went to visit,  we would go to Wegmans  the store is clean, they have a selection of food that we do not have here and the PRICES ARE THE BEST, AND THE QUALITY  OF THEIR MEAT IS FAR BETTER THAN PRICE CHOPPER COULD EVER HAVE, AND AT A MORE REASONABLE PRICE.  I know alot of people that fill the same.  So if anyone is listening bring Wegmans to Albany.  Price Chopper is getting to expensive so I go to Walmarts but I would rather go to Wegmans.   PLEASE, PLEASE BRING WEGMANS TO ALBANY.  Dolly O.