I've been aware of Weis Markets-- usually located in the border area of northern NJ/NY state, or…read moresome rural areas of PA that I've occasionally passed through-- for several years. Never had a reason to shop there until recently, motivated as much by curiosity as anything else.
In terms of food shopping, these days I alternate between the ShopRite in Stirling, and the ShopRite in Branchburg. With no money in my pocket, I stopped at the ATM alongside the Branchburg ShopRite recently, only to find it inoperative. I started driving in the direction of the ShopRite in Mansfield, as Stirling was that much further in the opposite direction, only to remember that you needed a quarter in order to utilize a shopping cart at Mansfield and realized that I didn't even have that on my person. So I altered direction towards Chester, only to remember that the ShopRite in Chester (at least in my memory of the few times I patronized it) was more expensive than the norm. Then I remembered there was a ShopRite up the road in Flanders, as well as a Wells Fargo with an ATM. So, given that I was already traveling that way anyway, I decided on the ShopRite in Flanders (which I patronized once or twice years ago).
At the ATM (which, thankfully, was operative), I saw the Weis Market across the street and decided somewhat spontaneously that maybe now was the time to give them a try. There was enough parking in the lot, although a young couple parked in front of me, both wearing knee-length shorts and knee-high socks, were staring somewhat fixedly at me. Given an occasional predisposition to paranoia in the past on my part, I tried to put it out of my mind, grabbed a cart, and went inside.
I always buy pre-prepared salads, but what I saw available at Weis wasn't exactly appealing. White iceberg lettuce, a jumble of cheese, croutons and some sort of anemic-looking berries. Hard pass. Looking up, I noticed the female half of the "Hills Have Eyes" couple outside now standing nearby, again staring fixedly at me. Disconcerted, I grabbed a package of pre-prepared sushi (which I never eat) and moved my cart onward.
In terms of canned and/or pre-packaged items, I found pretty much what I needed. Vegetables, soup, Pepperidge Farm bread, even a package of Tyson stuffed chicken breasts. A package of Kraft mac'n'cheese. Soda. Bottled water. As I moved down the aisle, I saw the male half of the "Hills Have Eyes" couple staring hard at me. In the past, when I was younger and healthier, I might have succumbed to the lure of this juvenile nonsense and engaged him in a staring contest. The thought occurred to me that they might have thought I was initially staring at them because they were an inter-racial couple, and I know from inter-racial couple friends of mine that being an inter-racial couple isn't always the easiest thing to be these days (or any days). I wanted to tell him that what had attracted my attention hadn't been race but rather the matching shorts and socks. The Tweedle-Dee/Tweedle-Dum sartorial effect had been kinda cute. But I didn't. I turned away and went down another aisle.
At the checkout counter, service was apathetic, but I'm not as hypersensitive to that as I used to be. I bagged my own groceries. Prices seemed reasonable enough, but I didn't spend as much as I normally would have. Normally, I would have bought coffee and fresh fruit, and I didn't this time.
In the parking lot, I was grateful to see that the hard-staring couple had departed. I had been halfway bracing myself for some sort of confrontation.
Back home, I tossed the sushi after 1 bite, as the texture seemed offputtingly gummy (in fairness, I'm not a fan of any kind of sushi-- I like my fish cooked, fully, thank you).
Was there anything that stood out in a positive way? Yeah, as a matter of fact. I bought a packaged slice of cheesecake from the bakery department. Wasn't expecting too much, but it was creamy and delicious. I found myself wishing I had bought another slice, or more. I also bought a "shoo-fly" pie out of curiosity. I've had it before, but it's been many years (I bought a slice or 2 a few times at a long-defunct Amish market in Hillsborough), and I wasn't really all that much of a fan of it even back then. This time? I thought it was wonderful, rich and moist and fresh. I had gone through the entire pie in just a few days time.
I also bought pre-packaged Weis brand "Amish" potato salad and seafood salad. The potato salad was bland, but the seafood salad was very enjoyable.
I might try Weis again at some point, even if only for the cheesecake and the "shoo-fly" pie. In all fairness, it probably won't replace my Stirling/Branchburg/ShopRite food shopping excursions, but I don't think Weis would be a bad choice if I happen to be in the area again any time soon. I won't be buying "green" salads or sushi, but their baked goods are outstanding.
Just hoping I don't encounter any Wes Craven movie extras in the parking lot next time!
