Wegman's Hanover NJ

thanks, I will need to head up sometime soon... I saw some articles there were literally lines to get into the store, and they had to have a police presence on opening day to deal with traffic/parking and crowd control since so many people came... the were even stories that some people camped out overnight... crazy - sounds like a craft beer release...

 

People must really need groceries. Pretty sure there's no snow in the forecast.

 

Wegmans in general caries a nice stock of local breweries and the larger distributed craft brands, always worth checking out every so often for new stuff. They have been open for years in Western New York , (they are a Rochester based company) and they sometimes still get that busy here.

 

Anything notable in the store? I work right there so I'll definitely check it out.

 

That's cool. I can't find that stuff anywhere other than draft from time to time.

 

Was planning on making this our new grocery store anyway, this is just great to hear on top of that

The kid in my who went to college in upstate NY is overjoyed right now.

 

There are hundreds of liquor/beer stores in the state. Was there some ridiculous sale or item? This sounds insane otherwise

 

Wegmans stores have a sort of a cult like following. People weren't there for the beer necessarily but for the whole store experience.

 

Wegmans is, by far, the best grocery store in the country and I am beyond jealous of anyone who lives in close proximity to one.

And their beer prices are always cheaper than in actual beer stores b/c of the volume they buy at. For instance, Cascade bottles that are $30-35 where in shop in NY were $18 at the Wegmans in Cherry Hill when I was there a couple months ago.

 

Good to hear this. The new Wegman's in Montvale, NJ is set to open in September. I could walk over there from my office.

 

I often shop at the one in Princeton area off rt 1. Decent prices and a much better than average selection. Also offer create your own six pack which is a good way to try items without committing to a while six pack

 

That's not how retail beer sales in NJ work. Wegmans, like all grocery, drug or liquor chains, is by law limited to owning only two off-premise licenses. While some chains get around the law by licensing their name or operating co-ops, Wegmans circumvents NJ law by putting their other liquor stores' licenses in the name of individual Wegman family members.

The Wegmans liquor stores in Manalapan & Woodbridge, for instance, are licensed to Joan Wegman Goldberg and the receipts reflect that fact (same phone # as Manalapan):

Other Wegmans liquor stores in NJ are licensed to a son-in-law, Jason Wehle, etc.

As individually licensed stores, they still have to buy through licensed NJ wholesalers, which, by law, must offer their products to all retailers at the same price, and to offer the same quantity discounts (if any) to all retailers. It is also illegal for retailers to sell for less than the wholesale price they paid (no "loss leader" pricing on beer in NJ).

Now, it is possible that the Wegmans branded stores have set up a legal "Co-op" to buy in bulk, but I've never noticed that Wegmans beer prices are better than local NJ competitors. Indeed, since they don't offer case discounts on beer, they are often quite a bit higher.

I recall, maybe a decade ago, seeing freshly delivered Nugget Nectar on the floor of my local Wegmans, took a case to the register and it rang up at the 4 X 6-pack price.

"No thanks."

Drove a couple miles down the highway, and saved myself around $10 by buying the NN case at Freehold Shoprite Liquors.

Without knowing the particulars (wholesale price, wholesaler quantity discount, typical retailer mark-up, state excise tax rate, etc) it is difficult to judge beer prices from state to state.

 

I think this is some sort of weird state thing in regard to Cascade. Was talking to a NY beer shop owner who said that they have to charge $30+ on Cascade to make an average profit, while practically every shop in NJ - including Gary's and Bottle King - can sell it for $18-20. That seems to be the average price for Cascade Kriek and whatnot in NJ, regardless of the store. in NY, every store is charging $30+ for it. it's pretty weird. idk if there's some extra tax from shipping Oregon to NY compared to NJ or something.

She even recommended me to cross the border to NJ whenever I want Cascade, saying she's an employee (with a discount) and she wanted some at one point, so she went to NJ, as it's cheaper there for her even with the employee discount at her own place.

 

interesting on the licensing workaround... didn't realize they have more than 2 in the state, while other retailers like Costco and Whole Foods for example are limited to 2 licensed locations as you mentioned...years back the WF in Madison sold beer and wine and they moved the license to a bigger, newer store in Paramus IIRC...