WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS SIGNS 140,000 SQUARE FOOT LEASE TO ANCHOR WAUGH CHAPEL VILLAGE SOUTH MIXED-USE PROJECT
Anne Arundel County location represents second in the State of Maryland and with Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corporation
Upscale market expected to open in conjunction with next phase of lifestyle center in 2009
Owings Mills, MD (April 28, 2006) – Wegmans Food Markets has signed a lease with Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corporation and partner BBSS, Inc. for 140,000 square feet of space at Waugh Chapel Village South in Anne Arundel County, an addition to The Village at Waugh Chapel. This new location, which represents the second for the Rochester, New York-based national supermarket chain in the State of Maryland and with Greenberg Gibbons, is expected to open in 2009. Wegman’s inaugural store in Maryland opened at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre in Hunt Valley last October.
Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, in a venture with property owner BBSS, Inc., has revealed its plans for the addition to The Village at Waugh Chapel, which presently consists of 425,000 square feet of retail space, 400 senior living units, an office building and various restaurant parcels. Positioned at the intersection of MD 3/301 and Waugh Chapel Road, the next wave of development will feature approximately 550,000 square feet of retail space, more than 110,000 square feet of office space and 228 residential units.
Wegmans Food Markets
Founded in 1916, Wegmans Food Markets is a family-owned company that operates approximately 70 stores throughout the New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland area. It has been consistently honored by Fortune Magazine in its “Top 100 Companies to Work For” list and was ranked #1 in 2005 and #2 in 2007.
The prototype Wegmans is designed to resemble a “European open-air market” environment and features an array of fresh produce, artisan breads, freshly-caught seafood, meat and more than 500 varieties of imported cheeses. The store carries more than 70,000 different products (compared to the industry average of 40,000) and employs approximately 700 full and part-time workers.
Also contained in each newly-constructed Wegmans is its Market Café which includes an assortment of hot entrée dishes, soups, gourmet sandwiches, freshly-made Sushi, an Old-Fashioned Sub Shop, Asian buffet, fresh fruit bar and a section offering pizza and wings. Seating for approximately 200 diners is also available on the mezzanine level overlooking this café.
Other highlights of the supermarket include a full bakery, “Foods from around the World” section including Indian and German selections, an in-store photo processing lab, a pharmacy and floral shop and greeting cards sections.
Wegmans is a major contributor in communities where stores are located. In addition to corporate giving, every store has a budget for community support. Wegmans has also awarded $56 million in scholarships to more than 18,000 employees since the company inaugurated the Wegmans Scholarship Program in 1984. About 25,000 students have active scholarships each year while they attend college and universities across the country.
“Wegmans represented the centerpiece of our comprehensive redevelopment and re-tenanting efforts at Hunt Valley Towne Centre, and they have consistently delivered a spectacular product and unmatched energy to our lifestyle center in Baltimore County,” stated Brian Gibbons, President and CEO of Greenberg Gibbons Commercial. “Quality retail merchants also have a strong desire to co-exist with this anchor tenant, and their presence will greatly assist our future leasing efforts for this project,” he added.
Anne Arundel County officials' statements
“Wegmans is outstanding and I am extremely pleased to welcome them to Anne Arundel County,” stated Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens. “They bring amenities and a quality product that is unparalleled by other supermarkets. After working nearly two years to attract them to the County, we are proud to announce they are finally here.”
“Greenberg Gibbons is fulfilling its promise to bring first class retail and business to Anne Arundel County,” stated Aaron Greenfield, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation. “Wegmans is just the kind of retailer that we are looking to add to Anne Arundel County and we are thrilled about their arrival. We commend the Greenberg Gibbons team for this tremendous effort.”
The Village at Waugh Chapel, which represents Greenberg Gibbons Commercial’s first lifestyle center, is a 71-acre mixed-use project positioned within minutes from Interstate 97. Amenities of the project include town square architecture, two lakes with fountains and a waterfall.
“The Village at Waugh Chapel stands as one of our company’s signature projects, based on the new Main Street architecture and lifestyle/entertainment center concept that we introduced to the Anne Arundel County marketplace with its opening in 2000,” stated Erwin L. Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of Greenberg Gibbons Commercial. “In Wegmans, we have attracted the perfect and most exciting supermarket anchor to build around our next phase of expansion,” he added.
Greenberg Gibbons Commercial, which was founded in 1968, focuses on the acquisition, development, leasing and management of mixed-use properties and retail shopping centers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The firm builds value in these holdings through asset management, re-development and leasing activities. The company presently owns and manages eighteen properties totaling more than three million square feet of space.
For additional information, Contact:
Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corporation 410-559-2500
Larry Lichtenauer, LH&A 410-833-6205
