ThisIsRochester.com: Business and Industry

Wegmans opens first New York City location

Oct. 27, 2019 -- A rainy Sunday morning did not stop customers from swarming to Brooklyn Navy Yard for the opening of the first Wegmans grocery store in New York City.

The chain's 101st store overall is 74,000 square feet, similar in size to the East Avenue store in Rochester. Planning began in 2015.

The store is on the ground level, with several floors of office and light industrial space above.

Wegmans targeted in lawsuit over ice cream

Oct. 8, 2019 -- A class action federal lawsuit against Wegmans Food Markets alleges the labeling of the grocer's vanilla ice cream is midleading because it contains flavors derived from non-vanilla sources.

The lawsuit, filed by Quincy Steele of Pennsylvania and Jimmy Arriola of New York City, is one in a series of vanilla-related court filings by attorney Spencer Sheehan of Long Island. Previous suits targeted Unilever United States Inc., which makes ice cream under the Breyers brand; Danone North America, over vanilla yogurts including the Oikos Triple Zero line; and Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Co., which makes the Edy's brands.

Developer Morgan postpones sale of properties

Oct. 6, 2019 -- Rochester developer Robert C. Morgan has delayed the planned sale of a significant part of his real estate portfolio.

Morgan, indicted in May on federal mortgage fraud charges connected to apartments in several locations, intends to complete the sale to a joint venture with a Pennsylvania company by mid-October, his attorney said. Morgan is selling about half of his portfolio, or 90 properties, to a partnership with Morgan Properties in KIng of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The purchase price has not been disclosed.

Morgan Properties, owned by Mitchell L. Morgan, is separate and unrelated to Morgan Communities based in Pittsford. Morgan Properties is expected to refinance nearly $627 million of debt on 53 properties.

Store in North Carolina is 100th for Wegmans

Sept. 29, 2019 -- Grocery giant Wegmans opened its first store in North Carolina, bringing the number of location across the East Coast to 100.

More than 3,000 people lined up outside the Raleigh location well before dawn for the grand opening at 7 a.m. said Jo Natale, vice president of media relations. Social media posts described a rally-like atmosphere as shoppers waited to enter.

The store employs 475 people, including a culinary staff of 120, and is paired with fast-casual burger restaurant.

The Gates-based chain plans five more stores in the Raleigh-Durham area, including the West Cary location in 2020..

ON Semiconductor cutting local jobs

Sept. 20, 2019 -- Photonics company ON Semiconductor announced it is laying off about 30 employees at its Rochester site about a year after saying it would expand operations.

The company is discontinuing certain image sensors no longer in high demand. A spokesperson says the company is looking at how it can now use that production space to create other products.

Empire State Development says $6 million in tax credits to help the company expand in Rochester have not be disbursed.

"While unexpected and disappointing, ESD and local partners are already working aggressively on potential alternatives consistent with the region's economic development strategies," ESD said in a statement.

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	More from 2019 Wegmans opens first New York City location Oct. 27, 2019 -- A rainy Sunday morning did not stop customers from swarming to Brooklyn Navy Yard for the opening of the first Wegmans grocery store in New York City. The chain's 101st store overall is 74,000 square feet, similar in size to the East Avenue store in Rochester. Planning began in 2015. The store is on the ground level, with several floors of office and light industrial space above. Wegmans targeted in lawsuit over ice cream Oct. 8, 2019 -- A class action federal lawsuit against Wegmans Food Markets alleges the labeling of the grocer's vanilla ice cream is midleading because it contains flavors derived from non-vanilla sources. The lawsuit, filed by Quincy Steele of Pennsylvania and Jimmy Arriola of New York City, is one in a series of vanilla-related court filings by attorney Spencer Sheehan of Long Island. Previous suits targeted Unilever United States Inc., which makes ice cream under the Breyers brand; Danone North America, over vanilla yogurts including the Oikos Triple Zero line; and Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Co., which makes the Edy's brands. Developer Morgan postpones sale of properties Oct. 6, 2019 -- Rochester developer Robert C. Morgan has delayed the planned sale of a significant part of his real estate portfolio. Morgan, indicted in May on federal mortgage fraud charges connected to apartments in several locations, intends to complete the sale to a joint venture with a Pennsylvania company by mid-October, his attorney said. Morgan is selling about half of his portfolio, or 90 properties, to a partnership with Morgan Properties in KIng of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The purchase price has not been disclosed. Morgan Properties, owned by Mitchell L. Morgan, is separate and unrelated to Morgan Communities based in Pittsford. Morgan Properties is expected to refinance nearly $627 million of debt on 53 properties. Store in North Carolina is 100th for Wegmans Sept. 29, 2019 -- Grocery giant Wegmans opened its first store in North Carolina, bringing the number of location across the East Coast to 100. More than 3,000 people lined up outside the Raleigh location well before dawn for the grand opening at 7 a.m. said Jo Natale, vice president of media relations. Social media posts described a rally-like atmosphere as shoppers waited to enter. The store employs 475 people, including a culinary staff of 120, and is paired with fast-casual burger restaurant. The Gates-based chain plans five more stores in the Raleigh-Durham area, including the West Cary location in 2020.. ON Semiconductor cutting local jobs Sept. 20, 2019 -- Photonics company ON Semiconductor announced it is laying off about 30 employees at its Rochester site about a year after saying it would expand operations. The company is discontinuing certain image sensors no longer in high demand. A spokesperson says the company is looking at how it can now use that production space to create other products. Empire State Development says $6 million in tax credits to help the company expand in Rochester have not be disbursed. "While unexpected and disappointing, ESD and local partners are already working aggressively on potential alternatives consistent with the region's economic development strategies," ESD said in a statement. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]