The Wegmans grocery chain confirms Thursday that it has scrapped its plans to open a store at the redeveloped Walter Reed hospital campus in Northwest Washington. It would have been the first Wegmans in the city. News 4’s Tom Sherwood reports.
Bad news ahead for fans of the Rochester-based grocery chain Wegmans: A location won't be part of the redeveloped Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus after all.
While nothing was ever made official, Wegmans had an interest in the 110-acre campus "because the site lent itself to Wegmans' massive size," the Washington Business Journal reported Wednesday. Wegmans stores, which are designed like European open-air markets, vary from 75,000 to 140,000 square feet in size, according to the company's according to the company's website.
Originally, Wegmans planned to work with a team bidding to redevelop the former Walter Reed site, but when that developer lost out, the grocery chain began working with winner Hines Interests Limited Partnerships, the WBJ said.
But Wegmans and the developer haven't been able to come to an agreement, Wegmans spokesperson Jo Natale told the WBJ.
"We have been unable to reach an agreement on economic terms or on an acceptable development plan," Natale told the WBJ. "We are doubtful that a deal will be struck."
She declined to provide more specifics, the WBJ reported.
However, the developer's plan does include a "large-format grocer," the WBJ said. Hines' plan for The Parks at Walter Reed also includes 2,000 units of mixed-income housing for sale and for rent; 250,000 square feet of retail; a Hyatt hotel and conference center; a school; healthcare and other offices, as well as open green space.
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"We still, I think are very hopeful that we will get a great set of retailers, not just a grocer," D.C.'s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner told News4.
At this time, Wegmans is exploring other lots for a D.C. location, but there are no other sites to announce, Natale told the WBJ.
