Wegmans Agrees to Buy Land in Cornelius

Wegmans store in Virginia | courtesy of Wegmans

By Jon Show — Wegmans, the popular grocery chain based in Rochester, N.Y., has signed an agreement to purchase a large tract of land near Atrium Health on Statesville Road, according to a company spokesperson.

“We are currently evaluating the site as a potential location for a future grocery store, along with other possible uses,” said Wegmans spokeswoman Marcie Rivera. “At this stage, no final decisions have been made, and we will share additional information as plans progress.”

The company offered no further details on what could occupy the site other than a retail store.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority owns 90 acres of land at the corner of Westmoreland Road and Statesville Road, which is subdivided into two lots. The Atrium facility currently occupies 30 acres, and the remaining 60 acres was planned for further development.

Wegmans typically targets 10 to 14 acres of land to build a supermarket.

In a recent interview, town officials expressed a desire to lure boutique corporate headquarters to the site to help shore up the town’s commercial tax base. Wegmans had approached town officials in the past, sources said, with the town advocating for more corporate uses rather than retail grocery.

A grocery store would require Wegmans to pursue rezoning, which includes applications before the planning board and Board of Commissioners. There are no development proposals from Wegmans listed as active on the Town of Cornelius website.

Wegmans is family-owned with more than 110 stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The chain is known for its large stores, extensive prepared-food offerings, restaurant-style dining options and focus on fresh and specialty foods.

Wegmans will open its first store in the Charlotte area in Ballantyne in mid-October. The store will be about 110,000 square feet.