Will You Camp Out For Wegmans?
In the past, openings have reportedly included "lounge chairs, sleeping bags and pup tents."
Should Howard County decline to participate in the heydey that has characterized previous Wegmans store openings out of self respect?
Blogger and Columbia Association Board Member Tom Coale raised the issue in his blog in response to reports from Explore Howard that said Wegmans officials expect thousands to congregate before the store's 7 a.m. Sunday (June 17) opening in Columbia at 8855 McGaw Road.
In the past, openings have included "lounge chairs, sleeping bags and pup tents," the paper reported.
Tell us in comments: Will you be lugging lounge chairs to be among the first the see the new Columbia Wegmans? Or do you think that is an unnecessary display?
Coale's response?
"I truly hope that my fellow HoCo'ers have the dignity and self-respect to decline that opportunity," he wrote in a Tuesday post, responding to past reports of long lines, sleeping bags and lounge chairs. "We may need some counselors on deck for those folks that walk inside and find out that the carrots still taste like carrots and the bananas still go bad by day five."
According to Explore Howard, Wegmans officials described the following previous opening days:
- Six groupies attend openings in every state, whom Wendy Webster, store manager, referred to as the store's “Deadheads.”
- Fun pricing will be in effect, but those details haven’t been released yet in order to strike “last-minute deals.”
- Employees will do a cheer “which involves yelling out the letters in Wegmans while forming them with outreached arms.”
- Webster said opening the store is like "having a child."
Emily
9:46 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Camp out for a grocery store? Seriously? There must be something more important in your life. I'm as excited as the next person for Wegmans, but I'll see you there a few weeks after it opens and the excitement dies down. The food will all be the same.
H.R. Pufnstuf
9:55 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
This is why Americans are fat.
Michaelwritescode
12:18 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I'm shocked that you didn't take this chance to take a jab at Ulman/Calvin Ball. Shocked.
H.R. Pufnstuf
12:50 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Well, MWC, I guess you don't have the world figured out after all, huh?
Andrew Metcalf
4:13 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Camping is a healthy activity!
H.R. Pufnstuf
5:11 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Ha, how many of these "campers" can do a respectable number of chin ups?
Marlou
10:10 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It will be a ZOO for weeks.....
Lisa Rossi
12:57 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Some context on Wegmans crowds from a previous story: "The stores are very busy on the weekends and on Mondays, said Mike Gorski, Wegman’s Maryland district manager. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the least busy, said Gorski. And if you’re worried about the initial rush after opening, it should subside after about four weeks, said Wendy Webster, the Columbia store manager." http://columbia.patch.com/articles/wegmans-answers-readers-questions
Danna Walker
9:46 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
This is funny, Columbia. I can't wait to find out what the fuss is about. Well, I will wait actually, for about four weeks.
George Lesznar
7:59 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Excited to have Wegmans in our community but I don't think it will be life changing.
Polly
9:51 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Frankly I'm just to old to be camping out for anything, much less a grocery store opening. But, I am ready to check out Wegman's. I've already got my card, some coupons and an app for the Ipad. I was able to check some prices on things I get regularly and was pleasantly surprised how low they were. E.g., 1 gallon 1% mllk $2.69, most places it's about $4.00, my Arizona Blueberry tea is at a great price as well. So, I'll shop there but not until the novelty has worn off a bit. In fact, I won't be going down that way to HD, or PetSmart either, at least for the time being.