Wegmans is poised to inaugurate its highly anticipated Manhattan branch next week. The renowned supermarket chain has disclosed that its Manhattan establishment is scheduled to commence operations at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 18. Nestled within the historic Wannamaker Building at 770 Broadway, at the junction of Astor Place and Lafayette Street in Greenwich Village, the 87,500 square-foot store will replace the former Astor Place Kmart, with its entrance located on Lafayette, between 8th and 9th streets.

In preparation for the grand opening, Wegmans has enlisted the services of over 600 new employees, with a primary focus on local hires. The store intends to offer a diverse range of culinary options, including “made-to-order and packaged Mezze choices, inspired by the Mediterranean diet.” Furthermore, in addition to traditional grocery offerings, customers can anticipate the availability of fresh sushi, custom-made salads, sandwiches, hot deli items, soups, pizza, wings, and a selection of hot Asian cuisine.

For seafood enthusiasts, Wegmans’ seafood department will showcase a selection of fish sourced from the East Coast and various U.S. ports, as well as imports from Japan’s Toyosu Fish Market, which will be flown in several times each week. Although the grocery store portion is set to open in October, an on-site dining area, complete with a sushi bar, a champagne and oyster bar, is anticipated to be unveiled in the first half of 2024.

Wegmans, having already established a successful presence with a Brooklyn location that opened in 2019, continues to earn accolades within the industry, securing a prominent #2 ranking on Food & Wine’s recent list of America’s finest grocery stores. Additionally, the company has consistently been named to Fortune’s prestigious “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for an impressive 26 consecutive years, achieving a remarkable fourth-place ranking in 2023.