Rochester, N.Y. - The new store will be twice as big and set back from where it is now.
“It just feels like one little part of Rochester that you've come to know forever is just going to be gone,” said long time customer Heidi Hadzima.
It's one of the last days for shopping at the East Avenue Wegmans in Rochester.
“This store has a lot of heart,” said Brenda Buda who has worked in the bakery department at the store for 32 years.
“I've been waiting a long time for a brand new store,” said Buda, “they've been talking about this for a long time, I'm very excited, very sad at the same time.”
Employee Donna Argento who has been with Wegmans for 37 years has fond memories of the store.
“I remember shopping in this store when I was a little girl with my mother because I grew up in the area,” said Argento.
The store will close its doors Saturday at 6 p.m. In the meantime, customers will have to find a new place to buy their groceries, but they won't have to change their pharmacy.
“We're actually not closing at all,” said Pharmacist Paul Taranto who has been at this Wegmans for 20 years. A temporary pharmacy is opening across the street.
“They [customers] can expect the same service. There will be ample parking behind the pharmacy, it will really be a seamless operation,” said Taranto.
The new Wegmans is scheduled to open May 19. Any food still left on the shelves Saturday will be donated to Foodlink.
