Wegmans Transforms Into Live Stage

If you have plans to go shopping Thursday night then may be the place to go. Every Thursday, now through November, the local market will continue to feature Nights on the Patio, a two year old idea to create a more family friendly environment.

Service Area Manager Andy Kujawa said the Wegmans tries to do things that no other grocery store does. “We try and break out of the stigma that it’s just a grocery store. We’re not just a grocery store,” Kujawa said. “We realize that grocery shopping is a nessecity but we try and make it fun. We try and make it family friendly, we try and make it enjoyable for the kids.

“Every little thing that you do helps and if you can make it an exciting and entertaining place for people to come, they’re going to come back and they’re going to tell their friends and family about it and that’s the best type of reputation and advertising we can get.”

Each week, beginning in the summer, Kujawa said the outside patio is transformed into a live stage. Local talent is supplied through Last Call Entertainment, located in Herndon, Va.

“It’s nice,” Kujawa said. “It gets us some exposure, it gets [the performers] some exposure and it’s kind of great to celebrate their local talent as well. That’s a big part of it.”

Last Thursday, national recording artists The Gold Heart Sisters, performed in front of an estimated 40 crowd members. It was the second time the local group has performed at the Leesburg market.

“When we heard about it we were like, ‘Wow, that’s a really great idea.’ and we’re glad to be a part of it,” said Singer and Mandolin Player Analise Gold. As a band, Gold and her two sisters have toured from coast to coast in the United States and recently completed tours in Canada and the United Kingdom. To be able to play at home is an awesome feeling, Gold said.  

“You can just look out into the audience and see your friends, and see acquaintances, people that have been to your shows before,” she said. “It’s really special.”

Nine-year-old Ava Bagdasarian said she has always been a fan of the group. Last week was the first time she had seen them perform at Wegmans, which is right down the road from where she lives.

“I think it is really good because a lot of the bands that we go and see are in Charlottesville or somewhere like that,” Bagdasarian said, adding that she wants to be performer when she grows up. “I like them because I think they are really good at playing and I want to play like them someday.”

Loudoun County resident Jill Tacci said she tries to attend the patio nights every week. The evenings are usually beautiful, she said, and it’s just a fantastic idea.

“You don’t even feel like you’re at the market. It’s relaxing after a hard day of work,” Tacci said. “You can beat the traffic, come in have a glass of wine, hear some music, do a little grocery shopping, all in one place. I think that’s phenomenal. Bravo to Danny Wegman. That’s what I say.”

That’s music to Kujawa’s ears who said the company believes in the whole concept of family.

“To be able to offer our customers the free patio nights has really been a nice way to get them to spend some quality family time, have some of our awesome food, be in a great safe environment and just to be able to enjoy their time together,” Kujawa said. “Just about all of our stores are on board with this and it’s something that we’re very proud to offer to our people.

“From a heartfelt perspective, it’s a fun night with wonderful atmosphere and an opportunity to relax, enjoy some great food and some good comradery. Anyone who has an appreciation for music, I think, would really kind of dig what we’re doing, so to speak. That’s why we’re in business. It’s about the people and it’s about the food.”

Nights on the Patio will continue to take place now through the end of November. The event features live music, food, and fun. Beer and wine are available to purchase as well. Shows are free and will be moved inside if inclement weather should occur. They are held every Thursday from 6 to 9 pm at the Leesburg Wegmans, located in the Village at Leesburg. This week's artist is the Jack Poster Project.