Grocery chains across the U.S. are still chasing growth in Sun Belt markets where population gains are reshaping where stores open next. In North Carolina, that trend is playing out with Wegmans, which has confirmed another store in Charlotte and is still advancing a separate project in Holly Springs.
Wegmans confirms Charlotte opening and keeps Holly Springs plans active
Wegmans announced that its first Charlotte-area store will open on October 14, 2026, in Ballantyne, according to the company announcement cited by NewsBreak. The supermarket will span 110,000 square feet and is expected to employ about 450 workers. When it opens, it will become Wegmans’ fifth North Carolina location.
The Charlotte store is planned to include prepared foods, sushi, bakery, seafood, and produce departments, according to the company. NewsBreak also reported that the location will feature Wegmans’ first outdoor seating and play area concept. Construction on the Ballantyne site began in 2024 through a partnership with Northwood Investors LLC.
Wegmans is also still moving forward with a Holly Springs store near NC Highway 55 and Ralph Stephens Road. Town documents cited by NewsBreak show the project received another extension in July 2025. Wegmans now anticipates groundbreaking sometime in mid-to-late 2026, but no opening date has been publicly confirmed.
What this means in North Carolina, and what is still not known
Wegmans currently operates four stores in North Carolina: Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and West Cary. The company entered the state in 2019 with its Raleigh store, which also marked Wegmans’ 100th store overall, according to the source material. The Charlotte opening would extend the chain into one of the state’s largest metro areas.
For Holly Springs, the broad outline is public, but key timing details remain unsettled. NewsBreak reported the proposed store would be about 99,000 square feet, and development discussions have been underway since 2019. Wegmans has not released a full statewide pipeline beyond the confirmed Charlotte opening and the ongoing Holly Springs project.
Residents are divided mostly because new grocery options can mean more competition and jobs, while also adding traffic and pressure around fast-growing corridors like Ballantyne and NC 55. The available source material does not include public polling or official comment totals on local reaction. What is confirmed is that Wegmans is increasing its footprint in a state where several large grocery chains are also expanding.
Why Wegmans is growing here and what shoppers should expect next
Wegmans has described North Carolina as a long-term growth market because of rapid population growth and strong demand for premium grocery offerings, according to the NewsBreak report. That helps explain why the company is adding stores in both the Charlotte area and Wake County. The strategy also fits broader grocery industry expansion in high-growth Southeastern markets.
Competition in North Carolina is also intensifying. NewsBreak identified Publix, Lidl, Sprouts, Harris Teeter, and Food Lion as chains that are expanding aggressively across the state. In that environment, a 110,000-square-foot Wegmans in Ballantyne would add another major player to a crowded grocery field.
For shoppers, the most immediate date is October 14, 2026, when the Charlotte store is scheduled to open. Holly Springs remains earlier in the process, with groundbreaking expected sometime in mid-to-late 2026, according to town documents cited by NewsBreak. For now, Wegmans has publicly confirmed one opening date in North Carolina and one additional project still moving through development.
