NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Wegmans is coming to Manhattan.
The beloved grocery store chain announced Thursday that it will take over the space previously occupied by Kmart in the East Village at Astor Place. Kmart exited the space this month after 25 years there.
Wegmans plans to open the new store in the second half of 2023.
The terms of the 30-year lease say Wegmans will occupy 82,000 square feet on both the street and lower levels of 770 Broadway between Eighth and Ninth streets.
“We are so excited to bring Wegmans to Manhattan. This is something we’ve been dreaming about and working toward for a long time,” said Colleen Wegman, president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets. “The community’s response to the opening of our Brooklyn store had an excitement and energy that you can only experience in New York City. You can feel that energy returning to the city, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”
“We are delighted to be part of bringing the beloved Wegmans to Manhattan,” said Steven Roth, Vornado’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Wegmans is one of a kind and will be a best-in-class addition to Manhattan, both for the local neighborhoods and as a destination for residents from across the island. We look forward to partnering with Wegmans’ talented team on the opening of this signature location.”
Wegmans opened its first New York City location in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in October 2019.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. currently operates 106 stores sin New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
The supermarket chain has made Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for 23 consecutive years, coming in fourth place in 2021.