Wegmans Eyeing First Pittsburgh-Area Location: Report

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA — Wegmans, a popular New York-based grocery chain soon could be opening its first Pittsburgh-area store.

Although no official announcement has been made, Wegmans reportedly is on the verge of building a store at Cranberry Springs, the mixed-use development along Route 228 near Interstate 79. Citing anonymous sources, the Pittsburgh Business Times said Wegmans is in "advanced negotiations" to establish a store in the same 100-acre development that houses the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

According to its website, Wegmans operates more than 100 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington D.C. and Delaware. There are 19 Wegmans stores in Pennsylvania, with the closest ones to Pittsburgh being in Erie and State College.

The privately owned company was launched more than a century ago and has more than 54,000 employees. Wegmans says it generates $12.5 billion in annual sales.

Regarding its expansion plans, Wegmans indicates the company moves slowly.

"Each year, thousands of people who have visited our store for the first time, or moved to a place without Wegmans, write asking that we build a store in their town," its website states. "Since we open just two or three new stores each year, it would be impossible to oblige every request."