{"id":7818,"date":"2016-03-09T00:13:38","date_gmt":"2016-03-09T05:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/?p=7818"},"modified":"2016-03-09T00:13:38","modified_gmt":"2016-03-09T05:13:38","slug":"a-wegmans-in-brick-mayor-kicks-off-campaign-to-lure-supermarket-chain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/2016\/03\/a-wegmans-in-brick-mayor-kicks-off-campaign-to-lure-supermarket-chain\/","title":{"rendered":"A Wegmans in Brick? Mayor Kicks off Campaign to Lure Supermarket Chain"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>

A Wegmans store in Alexandria, Va. (Photo: Wegmans)<\/p><\/div>\n

Between the vacant A&P and Pathmark stores, plus the former Foodtown site, Brick has a lot of room to offer\u00a0a supermarket chain\u00a0looking to come to town. But first, they need some convincing, Mayor John Ducey said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Ducey knows what most Brick residents do: interest in a high-end supermarket chain has been building for years, and Brick\u2019s central location between Toms River and Monmouth County makes it a prime location. Interest on the part of the higher end chains in opening here, however, has not always equaled that of their potential customers. Demographics skew too old, analysts have said in the past, and household incomes are not high enough. But if there is enough interest expressed by residents, Ducey said, one chain, Wegmans, may be convinced.<\/p>\n

Ducey said the township has been active trying to lure Wegmans to town, and he has held discussions with the company.<\/p>\n

\u201cApparently, they don\u2019t think there is sufficient demand for a Wegmans in Brick,\u201d Ducey said. \u201cLet\u2019s show them that\u2019s not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

The case for a Wegmans opening in Brick is strong, the mayor contends. Going by population,\u00a0the population between Brick and the towns it borders is about 346,000. Even with a Whole Foods opening next month<\/a> in Wall Township, a Wegmans in close proximity would compete not only with the Monmouth County store, but more easily draw customers from the remainder of Ocean County and the northern barrier island, where residents might find the trip to Wall too far.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really trying to contact them and get into some type of negotiation with them,\u201d Ducey said.<\/p>\n

The plan? Speak loud enough so Brick can\u2019t be ignored. Ducey has suggested Brick residents post to the supermarket\u2019s Facebook page<\/a> about how they\u2019d like a location in town. Also, residents should use Twitter to send a tweet directly to the company<\/a>, which often responds quickly and forwards the suggestion to its marketing team. Then, there\u2019s the hashtag \u2013 Ducey suggests residents add\u00a0#BrickTownshipWantsAWegmans to each social media post.<\/p>\n

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@MayorDucey: We're so honored, Mayor Ducey! Please be assured that your request has been shared with our real estate department!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) March 9, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n