A lot of people I know in the tech space seem to love Costco. I've been. It's fine -- compared to a lot of other dingy, sad, depressing grocery stores, it is absolute MILES better. So I understand the fondness.
But for me, it can never compare to Wegmans. At Wegmans, the store brand is always a sensible default purchase in a category, and often the best option in a category. The employees all seem happy because Wegmans has been one of the best blue collar employers in the country for a couple of decades now. The hot bar, burger shop, and sub shop are all fantastic: relatively cheap, and often better than any fast/casual alternatives in the area. They have a great beer selection, if you live in a state that allows beer sales in grocery stores.
Caveat: if you've only ever visited the Brooklyn Wegmans, or honestly any Wegmans outside of the core central-western NY zone, you're missing out on the best qualities of Wegmans. For whatever reason, the stores they've started in new regions in the past few years just don't capture the same Wegmans spirit. The creme de la creme Platonic form Wegmans will forever be Rochester's Pittsford Plaza location. If you're ever in Rochester, it's worth the visit.
Everything you said about Wegmans is true of Costco. Kirkland brand is usually the best option if they make it and Costco is known for their high starting wages, benefits, and treating their employees well. Their hot dog (1/4 lb all-beef) + drink deal has stayed at $1.50 for decades and is legitimately a solid lunch. Their beer selection is good (at least in NY) although I would recommend just going to a local brewery to buy beer in pretty much any state.
Wegmans has recently come to New England. They are generally much nicer, cleaner, and organized then our big local chain, Stop & Shop.
However Wegmans has a weird inventory. Many things you could find in any New England grocery store like steak tips, salt-top rolls, or brown bread are simply missing.
It wasn't until I was perusing Wegmans' extensive cured meat department that I realized I was thinking of Wegmans the wrong way: it's not a grocery store, it's an ethnic food store, like a Super 88. But instead of being Chinese, Wegmans is a midwest ethnic food store.
Wegmans is just another overpriced grocery store with a huge wine selection going for it. Literally here in NC I'd rather go to Harris Teeter or Whole Foods than Wegmans. Some HT's have a bar to hang out at which I occasionally do before I do my shopping. I just don't see the appeal of Wegmans except the transplant northerners who are reminiscencing.
But for me, it can never compare to Wegmans. At Wegmans, the store brand is always a sensible default purchase in a category, and often the best option in a category. The employees all seem happy because Wegmans has been one of the best blue collar employers in the country for a couple of decades now. The hot bar, burger shop, and sub shop are all fantastic: relatively cheap, and often better than any fast/casual alternatives in the area. They have a great beer selection, if you live in a state that allows beer sales in grocery stores.
Caveat: if you've only ever visited the Brooklyn Wegmans, or honestly any Wegmans outside of the core central-western NY zone, you're missing out on the best qualities of Wegmans. For whatever reason, the stores they've started in new regions in the past few years just don't capture the same Wegmans spirit. The creme de la creme Platonic form Wegmans will forever be Rochester's Pittsford Plaza location. If you're ever in Rochester, it's worth the visit.