But NJ has Trader Joe's and that's almost superior to Weggies!
Pfffffffffft. Not even in the same universe. Don't get me wrong, I love tj's, but no way can they compare to Wegmans.
Now Marianos? Definitely a contender to help my lack of Wegmans issue. Not all of them, but the 3 story one we just got by my house is amazing - the ones in the suburbs are nowhere near like it (they're like a regular grocery store, with maybe some extras) - at least the ones I've seen.
The Marianos by my house is as close to beating Wegmans as I've ever seen:
- wine bar (like a real bar, with live music) with a happy hour
-grill/bar area with fireplace and lounge chairs
- oyster bar (yes, drink beer and eat raw oysters IN THE GROCERY STORE)
- sushi bar (and I don't mean the grocery store kind where they roll it there. I mean a real sushi bar, where you sit and eat and drink sake and sapporo)
- bbq place
- wood fired pizza bar
- gelato shop and coffee bar with fireplace and sofas
Oh... And they have the regular grocery store, salad bar, deli, hot bar, etc that all the other Marianos have. It's like the hottest place to go for dinner on Friday nights in my neighborhood Lol. We go for sushi or oysters (and wine) - and then when you're done with dinner, you literally walk around the store with your glass of wine and do your grocery shopping.
They will also cook your meats there - so you go to the grocery section (the size of any large chain grocery store anywhere) and choose some steaks, and they'll grill them up there in front of you. You can eat them at the bar or take them home.
It's the greatest grocery store ever. Maybe better than Wegmans! :eek: Yep, I grew up in Rochester, NY, shopping at the original Wegmans when they were still local mom & pop shops... And I've made this blasphemous statement!
