24,000 Shoppers Visited Hanover Wegmans On Opening Day

HANOVER, NJ — Plenty of Patch readers visited the new Hanover Wegmans opening day, and we heard a lot of the same refrain: the lines were long and the parking lot was packed. Now, Wegmans has provided numbers to back up those complaints. Over 24,000 locals visited the chain's first North Jersey location on opening day this Sunday.

2,000 customers were already in line, ready to go for the 7 a.m. opening time, and it only got more crowded as they day went on. The parking lot was so packed that police were on hand to help direct traffic, some of which stretched onto Route 10.

The numbers might not come as a surprise to some; the Wegmans has been a hotly anticipated opening since the idea was first proposed nearly a decade ago. Prior to Sunday, the closest Wegmans location was in Woodbridge.

“The opportunity to introduce a whole new way of shopping to this community is exhilarating,” store manager Tim Lockwood said in a press release prior to the opening. “When you add to that the chance to build a new team and instill the Wegmans values in nearly 500 employees, you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career.”

Patch readers shared their first impressions of the new store, which focused on the opening day lines.

"Cops [were] doing a great job of managing the cars and parking lot entrance and exit. But inside the store is very crowded. Hard to move a cart around. Store looks great and all registers are manned with staff - keeping checkout flowing. But just super packed," a local shopper who went Sunday morning told Patch.

According to Wegmans, the store has 65,000 different items, including 3,000 organic options, 700 produce offerings, and 300 different types of cheeses.

It also features a Burger Bar restaurant, pizzeria, bakery, and other ready-to-go food options, as well as a catering department. Wegmans has a pharmacy, floral, wine, and sub shops, and a Redbox DVD rental kiosk.

The store, located at 34 Sylvan Way in Hanover, is open 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

Did you go to Wegmans yet? What did you think? Let Patch know in the comments!

Image: Sent to Patch by a local shopper. Used with permission.