Weis Markets Reopens Lititz Store After Four-Month Storm Closure

Weis Markets reopened its Lititz, Pennsylvania, store on Nov. 12, four months after a July 5 storm forced the location to close. The company cut a ribbon at the 740 S. Broad St. store and used the downtime to run a full remodel and add a fuel center.

The July storm caused roof and interior water damage. Weis didn't leave the community without pharmacy service: from Aug. 11, it operated a temporary modular pharmacy facility in the store's parking lot.

"While the storm damage in July forced us to close for several months, we used the opportunity to not only repair the store, but also to enhance the shopping experience for our customers," said Bob Gleeson, COO of Weis Markets.

A caveat worth noting: four months of closure is a long stretch for any grocery trade area, and Weis hasn't disclosed the remodel's cost or the revenue impact. What it has detailed is the scope of the work.

What changed inside the store?

The remodel delivered a new interior across the board. Updates include:

• New flooring, finishes and brighter lighting
• A new roof and updated HVAC and mechanical systems
• A Gas N' Go fuel center with access from both the front and rear of the store
• An upgraded deli with more variety, including local items
• An updated pharmacy with a larger consultation room
• An upgraded produce department with expanded variety and new decor
• New decor in the beer café
• An enhanced floral department near the entrance
• Renovated restrooms and refreshed exterior landscaping

The fuel station and pharmacy reopenings came first in the sequence, Gleeson said, followed by the full store. He also credited the Borough of Lititz for its work during the approval and inspection process, and thanked the store's associates and customers for their patience.

The takeaway: Weis converted an unplanned closure into a capital improvement it might otherwise have scheduled over years.

How did Weis mark the reopening?

The company put $5,000 back into the Lititz community on reopening day. Weis presented $1,000 donations to five local organizations: the Lititz Fire Department, Lititz Police Department, Lititz Warwick Community Chest, Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians, and the Warwick School District Student Services Fund.

That's roughly $1,000 per group — modest money, but a visible goodwill signal in a town of Lititz's size after a summer without its full-service grocer.

Who is Weis Markets?

Founded in 1912 and based in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, Weis Markets operates 201 stores across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia and Virginia.

The chain now has a fully modernized store with a fuel anchor in Lititz — a format play that grocers increasingly lean on to drive trip frequency. Whether the added Gas N' Go offsets four months of lost sales, though, isn't something the company has quantified.