The proposed Wegmans store, set to open in 2017, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Credit Greenberg Farrow (Image from NY Times)

Wegmans, the the Rochester-based grocery store is planning on opening their first New York City location at Brooklyn Navy Yard, which borders Vinegar Hill (and 5 minute walk from the York Street F station in Dumbo). The 74,000-square-foot market will anchor a new shopping complex along Admiral’s Row, which is set to open in 2017, according to NY Times.

Grocery stores in New York City have been going through a transformation, going upscale with stores such as Trader Joe’s Brooklyn (opened in September 2008), Whole Foods Brooklyn (opened in December 2013), and Fairway in Red Hook Brooklyn (which re-opened in March 2013 after extensive renovation post-Hurricane Sandy). Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have been very well received by New York shoppers, according to The Real Deal, and can withstand New York’s high retail rents because of their substantial sales volumes. Anecdotally, we’ve heard from Trader Joe’s employees that the Brooklyn store is the highest grossing location per square feet.

Across Sands Street, a four-story parking garage will be built, for use by Wegmans and other Navy Yard tenants, with a floor or two of industrial space above it.

Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn (on Court St and Atlantic Ave) is 14,000 square feet, Whole Foods in Gowanus/Park Slope Brooklyn is 56,000 square feet and Fairway in Red Hook is 52,000 square feet. At 74,000 square feet, the Wegman’s Brooklyn store will be the by far the largest among the big 4 grocery stores. Can Wegmans, with its cult following appeal to Brooklynites? We think so.