The addition of a Wegmans store marks another unmistakable indicator of Cranberry Township’s continuous growth and steady development over the last two decades.

As one of the most popular grocery chains in the country prepares to open a 115,000 square foot store on Cool Springs Drive, both township officials and residents have professed their enthusiasm about what the move means for the area’s retail landscape and community at large.

“Cranberry Township is home to many exceptional businesses that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” said township manager Dan Santoro. “We are delighted that Wegmans has chosen Cranberry Township as its first location in the Pittsburgh area.”

Officials from the chain informed the Butler Eagle earlier this month that the earliest the new store could open is late 2027 following a yearlong approval process and what could take anywhere from 12-15 months to actually build the location.

When the doors officially open, Wegmans will immediately be one of the premier fixtures in the Cranberry Springs Development, which most notably includes the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and the Charter Homes Crescent Development, along with a number of premium hotels and in-demand retail spots.

Sippel Enterprises and specifically developer Gary Sippel, who has progressively mapped out what Cranberry Springs currently looks like over the last decade, are planning to add two Class A office buildings to the area in addition to more retail locations and restaurants.

On the other side of one of the busiest highways in the state is the Cranberry Woods Development that features Westinghouse Electric, which is the third largest employer in the county, according to data from 2023.

The development also contains Emerson, a St. Louis-headquartered technology and software company, Pittsburgh Marriott North, an upscale hotel that hosts numerous events, and the newly established Giant Eagle headquarters.

Nearly four years ago in the fall of 2021, the township brought together both major developments with the completion of the MSA Thruway, a $12 million tunnel project underneath Route 228 that connected Interstate 79 to both Cranberry Springs and Cranberry Woods.

As one of the fastest growing hubs for businesses of all kinds, officials from Wegmans expressed in a Jan. 13 news release that they had been searching for the ideal location for a number of years before pinpointing Cranberry Township.

“We’ve received thousands of requests for a Wegmans in the Pittsburgh region since opening our first Pennsylvania store over 30 years ago,” said Dan Aken, Wegmans vice president of real estate and store planning. “We’re excited to have finally found the right location to bring Wegmans to the Pittsburgh area.”

While there is no official timeline for the approval process to begin, township officials expressed an eagerness to work with the 107-year-old franchise.

The plans will be vetted by the township’s Planning Advisory Commission before the supervisors can sign off on final approval.

“As with any development, the board’s job is to make sure the project meets the needs of the township and is held to the high standards for which Cranberry has come to know,” said longtime supervisor Bruce Hezlep, who was recently elected as the township’s new chairman. “We look forward to working with Wegmans officials during the planning and development process.”

In a news release, Wegmans officials said they plan to hire 400-500 employees to run the store, most of them being from the local area.

“I’m thrilled to hear that because that to me is workforce development,” said Denise Martin, president of Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber of Commerce. “That says that we want to come in and help these families have good jobs. They’re contributing to the economy here, so not only are they giving us the option of a place to spend our money, but they’re giving us a resource to make money.

“I think it’s a win-win on both ends.”

The grocery chain, which has become famous for its produce department and a distinct variety of seafood, meat, bakery, deli and cheese options, has been praised for its treatment of employees.

Wegmans has been consistently tagged as one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE Magazine for 27 consecutive years, checking in at No. 6 in last year’s rankings.

Employees have access to a wide variety of perks, including “competitive pay and benefits packages, premium pay on Sundays and holidays, tuition assistance through the company’s employee scholarship program, and flexible scheduling,” according to the Jan. 13 news release.

“It’s a great addition to the community, providing that kind of economic growth for jobs throughout Cranberry Township,” Santoro said. “Anytime you get 400 to 500 new jobs, that’s a win in the community. We’re excited that that’s going to happen.”

“Not only does Wegmans create an additional option for our residents, but it will also serve as a driver of jobs in our area,” Hezlep said.

Wegmans has also striven to be at the forefront of community outreach. According to a news release, in 2023, it contributed more than $86 million to local communities, with Cranberry Township set to be one of the next beneficiaries of that generosity.

“I think it’s a great compliment to the current business community in Cranberry Township,” added Santoro. “Wegmans’ reputation certainly proceeds them. So I think it fits well in the community, and I think it candidly speaks to the long-range planning and efforts that the board has done here in terms of trying to attract high-quality businesses.”

Wegmans owns 19 different stores across the state, with the two closest ones to Butler County being in Erie and State College, two locations that have a significant population presence outside of the two major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Cranberry’s expanding population in recent years might have factored into why executives from Wegmans pegged the township as its first location in southwestern Pennsylvania.

As of Census data from 2023, Cranberry’s population is estimated to be 34,516. That’s a notable 4.3% increase from 2020 when the population came in at 33,096 people.

“If we’re growing at that pace and we have all these new things developing, it just shows that we have people that want to live here,” Martin said. “We have people that are still moving into this area. They are purposefully picking this area in Cranberry to build their homes, have businesses and live, work and play. The reason all of these things are coming is the driving need and desire to live here.”

The steady population increase also coincides with the progressive rise in income for township residents.

Butler County’s median household income was $80,379 in 2023, but it’s substantially higher in the southern portion.

According to the most recent Census data, the average median household income from 2019-2023 for Cranberry Township checked in at $125,532. That figure is second only to neighboring Adams Township over that same time frame.

“The Board of Supervisors has long advocated for new and diverse business to call Cranberry home, and Wegmans will serve as a wonderful complement to our existing business community,” Santoro said.

“I think it’s a great location to serve the region and Cranberry residents both.”

Assignment editor Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.