Wegmans To Open Its First Massachusetts Store

After years of delays, the New York grocery chain Wegmans is opening its first Massachusetts store in Northborough, where it is planning a 135,000-square-foot behemoth that will rival the state’s largest supermarkets.

The store will anchor a $100 million shopping and residential complex called Northborough Crossing, which will include more than 380 homes, a Kohl’s, Golf Town, T.J. Maxx, and Toys ‘R’ Us, among other stores. Developers Brendon Properties and New England Development recently began construction, helping to break a private-sector building slump that has stalled large projects across the state.

While the construction slowdown has hurt the economy, it has also created opportunities for retail giants such as Wegmans, which can seize on lower real estate costs to expand into new markets. The grocery store, known for its huge prepared foods section and wide selection of high-quality generic products, is seeking to open several additional locations in Massachusetts, although only one other location, in Westwood, is currently planned. The Northborough store is scheduled to open next fall.

“Over the next five to seven years, we might have half a dozen locations in Massachusetts,’’ said Ralph Uttaro, vice president of real estate development for Wegmans. “We’re looking for high-density areas with high levels of income and education.’’

To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Boston Globe.