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The grocer with a cult-like following is pursuing a site owned by Atrium Health in Cornelius
The Ballantyne Wegmans is opening Oct. 14. (Rendering courtesy of Wegmans)
by Ashley Fahey
Wegmans has closed in on an expansion plan into north Mecklenburg County.
A spokesperson for Wegmans confirmed to The Ledger that the grocer has “entered into an agreement with Atrium Health” to buy the property at the southwest corner of the West Moreland and Statesville roads intersection, next to the Atrium Health Lake Norman complex.
“We are currently evaluating the site as a potential location for a future grocery store, along with other possible uses,” the spokesperson said. “At this stage, no final decisions have been made, and we will share additional information as plans progress.”
WSOC first reported the news on Monday morning.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, which is Atrium, owns a 62.4-acre site at 18215 Statesville Road. The stated “land use” for the property is hospitals, so it’s not clear if the site would require a rezoning to accommodate a Wegmans.
The most recent assessed value for the property is about $13M, but market value can vastly differ from assessed value. Atrium paid $19.6M for the land in 2019.
Rumors have circulated for years that north Mecklenburg County would be an ideal location for a Wegmans store, given the company’s preference for high-growth suburban markets with highway access and high incomes.
Wegmans will open its first Charlotte store in Ballantyne, at 11550 North Community House Road, on Oct. 14. Plans have been in motion for months among Wegmans fanatics to camp out at the new store ahead of opening. The grocer is known for its cult-like following, especially among transplants from the Northeast.
If the Cornelius deal does move forward, it will likely take a couple of years for the north Mecklenburg store to open, especially since a land sale hasn’t closed yet.
Wegmans announced it was opening a south Charlotte store in April 2024, then purchased the Ballantyne site in January 2025. It held a groundbreaking ceremony for that store last September.
Ashley Fahey is The Ledger’s managing editor. Reach her at [email protected].