Weis Markets
Opened:2012
Previous Tenants:Genuardi's (1988-2012)
Location:73 Old Dublin Pk, Doylestown, PA
Photographed:July 22, 2021
Northern Doylestown seems to be a place for some really nice supermarkets, as we'll see. It's likely because there are so many so close together. This Weis opened in 2012 in a former Genuardi's that they acquired, and initially left as it was. After a few years, as the GIANT Food Store nearby prepared to move into a new, larger location in a former Kmart, Weis began a renovation of this store. As we'll see, it's still got the bones of a Genuardi's, but it looks much more modern.
We enter to the floral department in an island, with the spacious grand aisle to our right. Produce is in the front with beer/wine and the cafe in the front right corner, and deli/prepared foods on the right side of the grand aisle. The bakery lines the left side of the grand aisle, with meat and seafood on the back wall. The pharmacy is on the other side of the floral island, with HABA in the aisles facing. Frozen and dairy are on the left side.
It looks like Weis's latest renovation was mostly cosmetic, since this layout is likely exactly what Genuardi's had. The flooring also resembles that of the Lifestyle decor package, which Genuardi's would've used, more than what Weis is putting in remodels.
That said, this store is really beautiful today. The new decor package looks fantastic in this grand aisle (although we'll see it gets a bit blander in the rest of the store, where there's a lower ceiling and less opportunity to have decor on the walls).
The grand aisle is partially located in an expansion on the right side of the store. Even with the expansion, the store is right around 50,000 square feet, so it's on the smaller side -- compared to the ACME's 62,000 square feet and the GIANT's 70,000 square feet.
I really like this decor package, which I believe we have seen before. I've photographed a few other Weis locations with it. It looks best in the more deluxe version, like we see here.
Cafe (eatery) and beer/wine in the front corner. The brightly-colored prepared foods departments are up next on the side wall.
Note the backsplash tile which I believe is also left over from Lifestyle.
And if we turn around and look across the grand aisle, we can see the bakery department on the other side.
I particularly like The Eatery's signage. This department sign always works well in this decor package.
The Market Deli looks a little more bland, although not bad, especially in person. Given how busy the rest of the decor is, it's not a bad idea to have one really simple wall in the grand aisle.
And as we progress to the back of the grand aisle, we get baked goods and bulk/nuts...
The relatively small meat and seafood counter is on the back wall, but I really like the decor. I don't think Weis typically has very large meat and seafood counters.
Opposite that is natural/organic foods, with pharmacy/HABA in front of it. Again, I assume this flooring is left over from Genuardi's.
More brightly colored decor in the natural foods area. I have to say that I love the colorful, over-the-top style of decor much more than the sleek streamlined neutral that some stores (ahem, Ahold Delhaize) prefer. Though as we'll see, the GIANT here in Doylestown is amazing.
And the pharmacy in front of the natural foods area.
Once we leave the grand aisle, the store gets significantly less exciting. I assume the fixtures and flooring are left over from Genuardi's throughout.
This ceiling feels very low compared to the grand aisle ceiling. I'm not sure what the decision was to leave the drop ceiling here but have the high exposed ceiling over the grand aisle, but it's a very common choice in supermarket design.
Cold cuts do have a little bit more exciting decor, and the lighting is good in this section.
And frozen foods are here in aisles 10 and 11. The category markers and aisle markers are definitely new, but those look like Lifestyle-era frozen foods cases.
As we can see, though, one thing this Weis has going for it is that it's spotless and very well-stocked in most places. I assume the high level of competition around here keeps everyone on their toes.
Aisle 12 picture! I feel like it's been a while.
The dairy department begins in the back corner here with the milk coolers. The soft blue color looks really great in this area, especially with the lighting.
And bread is in the front part of the last aisle.
That brings us to the front-end, and to the end of this Weis tour. We'll see more Weis stores very soon, including some much more deluxe (and some much less deluxe) versions of this decor.
But for now, we have a lot more to see in Doylestown! Tomorrow we'll be checking out the old GIANT, which moved into the Kmart in 2021. Head over to Grocery Archaeology to check it out!
