Wegmans opened its first Charlotte-area grocery store on Wednesday in the Ballantyne neighborhood, WBTV reported. Some fans started lining up as early as 5 p.m. on Tuesday, WSOC said.

The store opened at 9 a.m. on North Community House Road, WBTV reported. Hundreds of shoppers came in once the doors opened, and the store was crowded inside, the station said.

Cari Morris was first in line. "I wanted to be first in line because I found out the store was opening on my birthday," she told WBTV. She said the store reminds her of growing up in Buffalo, New York. "I grew up with Wegmans as my hometown grocery store," she said.

The store is huge, at 110,000 square feet, both stations reported. WSOC said that is more than twice the size of a typical grocery store. Prepared foods take up nearly half the building, WBTV said. There is also a large cafe with seating for hundreds and a play area, according to WSOC.

The store has 664 parking spaces and will bring about 450 jobs to the area, WSOC reported.

Wegmans is based in Rochester, New York. It will have to compete hard in Charlotte, WSOC said. Walmart is the city's top grocer, with $2.4 billion in sales across 32 stores, the station reported, citing 2026 data from Chain Store Guide. Harris Teeter and Food Lion follow close behind.

"Our focus has always been our people," store manager Patrick McGuinness told WSOC. "Our people will take care of our customers."

The Ballantyne area has drawn about $111 million in investment since the city approved a redevelopment plan in 2020, WSOC reported.

What we know: Charlotte's first Wegmans opened Wednesday in Ballantyne to big crowds.
What we don't: Whether Wegmans plans more stores in the Charlotte area.