The town of DeWitt approved Wegmans to sell beer and wine in its food court, Market Cafe, which will also be doubling in size.

Wegmans’ food service operations has increasingly developed over the past 20 years and it continues to improve its offerings in order to remain competitive, said Evelyn Carter, director of community relations at Wegmans Food Markets.

“Approval of our application by the town of DeWitt will allow us the opportunity to explore some of our various food service concepts where we are able to serve wine and beer in our cafe as a complement to a meal,” Carter said. “We now have the ability to apply these food concepts at our DeWitt location, an option we believe our customers will appreciate.”

Although Wegmans has received approval from the town of DeWitt, it still needs to apply to the New York State Liquor Authority for a license, according to an Oct. 22 syracuse.com article.

Syracuse University students that are fans of Wegmans appear to like the idea of expanding and serving liquor in the Wegmans food court.

Jacqueline Soldano, a senior advertising major, said she’s been a huge fan of Wegmans ever since a store was built near her hometown.

“It’s the best grocery store I’ve ever been to. So I’m happy they’re doubling in size,” she said. “I think it’s great they’re serving liquor.”

Professors at SU also seem to think this is a great move on Wegmans’ part. The opening of Trader Joe’s in Syracuse a few weeks ago has put pressure on Wegmans to make itself stand out from the competition, said Adam Peruta, an advertising professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

“Wine and beer sales are a way for Wegmans to differentiate themselves from the competition and make the store more of a destination,” he said. “They hope it will get customers to spend more money per visit.”

Some students said they think selling liquor in the cafe will be a great add-on even though Wegmans was great beforehand.

Although Wegmans is already a popular and well-known grocery store, Linda Cushman, a professor in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, said she believes this move will attract more people to the store during different times of the day.

“They have a very healthy morning and daytime business in the cafe and this could be a way to strengthen that business into the evening and make the brand even stronger,” she said.

Katelyn Holbrook, a junior communication and rhetorical studies major, said she feels differently than other students, despite her love for Wegmans.

“As a college student, Wegmans probably wouldn’t be my first choice for going to have a drink,” Holbrook said. “Truthfully, I don’t really feel like the sale of alcohol here is necessary.”

Published on October 28, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Lauren: lmdoyle@syr.edu