Just when fans thought this iconic grocery store chain had given up on them, a major announcement has reignited the hope for its future.
Every neighborhood or small town has a beloved store that generations of families have turned into their go-to spot for all their household needs.
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Maybe it’s one of the few reliable grocery stores that sells a specific food brand we love. Or perhaps what keeps us coming back is seeing the same cashier with whom we’ve bonded over neighborhood gossip.
Whatever the reason, the thought of losing that store is simply devastating.
Weis opens its first new store after three years.
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Weis faces struggles in its business
Founded in 1912 as a small neighborhood store in Pennsylvania and known for its in-house dairy products, Weis Market (WMK) has grown into a national grocery store chain with over 200 locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware.
Although the company might be beloved by those living in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., it has faced a slowdown over the last few quarters.
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Weis’s net income declined 23.4% during the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to last year and nearly 18% year to date.
The grocery store chain last opened new locations in 2022, when it added two stores to its real estate portfolio.
Although it still reported positive net sales, the concerning declines and slowdowns in its business left some wondering whether Weis would suffer the same fate as other retail chains that have enacted massive store closures.
Weis opens its first store after a three-year halt
Weis announced the opening of a massive 65,000-square-foot new store in Linganore, Maryland, this month. This marks the company’s first new grocery store in three years.
In May 2024, Weis revealed that labor shortages and supply chain disruptions had led it to scale back on new store openings.
But it was ready to resume as it unveiled plans to open six new locations and five new fuel centers in 2025. It also aimed to completely revamp 11 stores and do minor remodeling on 15.
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A few months later, the company delivered some bittersweet news, stating that although its business’ health had improved, disruptions remain persistent. Hence, it decided to push its expansion plans to be finalized by 2026.
Nonetheless, Weis remains strong in its promise.
Last year, the grocery store chain renovated or remodeled a dozen stores and acquired two Sunnyway Foods locations last September to rebrand them into Weis, ending 2024 with 198 units.
In addition to its new Maryland location, Weis also announced it has begun the construction of a new store in Middleton, Delaware, which is set to open in late 2025.
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