Forget Whole Foods — Wegmans is coming to the Big Apple.
The upstate-based grocery store will open its first city location in 2017, joining a slew of other stores in a new complex on Admirals Row at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Twitter lit up Wednesday morning following the announcement, as loyal shoppers expressed their excitement.
WEGMANS IS COMING TO BROOKLYN, I REPEAT WEGMANS IS COMING TO BROOKLYN!!! YAYYYY BEST EVERRRR NEWS, NOW I REALLY NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE BROOKLYN
— Caitrin Louisa (@the_c_facini) May 13, 2015
Wegmans coming to Brooklyn actually made me start crying, see you there on Sunday’s @evboogie.
— Lauren Nostro (@laurennostro) May 13, 2015
Upstate transplants now living in New York like Brianne Johnson said Brooklynites have no idea what they are in for once Wegmans opens its doors.
“It has a cult-like following,” she said. “Robert Durst shoplifted a pre-made sandwich from Wegmans when he had thousands of dollars in the car, if that tells you anything.”
Johnson added that once city dwellers get a taste of what Wegmans has to offer, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods will be in trouble.
“Wegmans is universally loved upstate for a reason,” she said. “The only supermarket that it approaches in terms of pricing, pre-made food and user-friendly layout is Fairway.”
Brooklyn, we are listening and feeling the love. We love you back! #WEGMANSBROOKLYN
— Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) May 13, 2015
Since it opened in Rochester back in 1916, Wegmans has made quite a name for itself, consistently among the top grocery stores across the country as rated by Consumer Reports.
“The Brooklyn Navy Yard is proud to deliver on its promise to bring a supermarket to this neighborhood,” Brooklyn Navy Yard CEO David Ehrenberg said in a statement. “But not just any grocery store. Wegmans is widely recognized as the country’s best supermarket for its affordable, quality food and is also recognized as the best retail employer in the country.”
Wegmans regularly earns a spot on Forbes’ list of the top 10 employers in the US, as it provides top-notch health care, competitive wages, paid leave as well as other benefits.
The chain plans to initially hire 450 people — a quarter of which will be full-time positions — to service the 74,000-square-foot facility.
““It is a thrill to bring Wegmans to Brooklyn, along with hundreds of new jobs,” Wegmans CEO Danny Wegman said. “We are proud to be part of this exciting project and look forward to providing the very best quality and selection, consistent low prices, and incredible customer service to the local and wider Brooklyn community.”