Wegmans growing in Webster

Wegmans is hoping to expand another one of its stores. The grocery store chain has its sites set on its Webster store on Holt Road. The store currently sits near the intersection at Holt and Ridge Road near Route 104.

Since Wegmans decided to close all Chase Pitkin stores two years ago, many wondered what would go in their place. We may have that answer soon at least for the one in Webster. For two years, the old Chase Pitkin store on Holt Road sat empty. Now Wegmans wants to breathe life back into the old building.

"I don't know what they're going to put in there, but you know Wegmans is going to put something different in there, bigger. They do it nice, everything they do is nice," said Ronald Nesbitt, the Webster Town Supervisor.

Nesbitt says Wegmans approached him about a month ago to expand the Webster store while making room for two new tenants in the old Chase Pitkin building. While it's still a mystery as to who will be moving in, Nesbitt says no matter what, the new developments are good news for the town.

"It's going to encourage the shopping to stay right here in Webster," said Nesbitt.

For the first time, Wegmans is expected to unveil its plans to the town board Thursday. The existing Wegmans sits on more than 98,000 square feet. It wants to expand the store in two phases by adding more than 45,000 square feet, which would also include taking over these shops. Wegmans says it wants to expand its prepared food section and seating.

"They could make it like Pittsford and I'm excited to find out what they're going to do, too," said Nesbitt.

Wegmans also has plans to tear down the old loading area at the Chase Pitkin side to make room for 81 more parking spaces. Nesbitt says he doesn't expect any opposition from the board or from the public.

"It could take up to six to nine months maybe not that long because they're not encroaching on the property lines, traffic is really not an issue because they're already there, so they don't have to go through some of the things that you would normally do if you were going to start from scratch," said Nesbitt.

These plans are different from the original plans to build a brand new Wegmans in the Webster Town Center, which is across the street on Holt Road. Those plans were scrapped.

The town board meets Thursday night at 7:30 at the town hall. Public input is welcome. If it gets the okay, Wegmans could start construction in nine months.