It's a question on the minds of many: How will other supermarkets in Maryland respond to the expansion of Wegmans?

One supermarket consultant, in an interview with Patch, puts it bluntly. "There's really not a whole lot they can do," said David Livingston, with the consulting firm Supermarket Location Research, in Waukesha, WI.

That doesn't mean that chains across the region haven't tried to go up against the privately held upscale supermarket chain based in Rochester, NY. Places that were once just spots to get groceries are now offering Wi-Fi, special discounts—even free merchandise, in addition to undergoing renovations, with the opening of a nearby Wegmans. In some cases, grocers simply called it quits, saying it wasn't worth trying.

Wegmans officials say as much, too. When their store comes to town, the competition will have to improve. "Everyone has to put their A-game face on now," said Wendy Webster, the manager of the Wegmans Food Market coming to Columbia, of the local competition, according to Explore Howard.

Wegmans has 79 stores total, with four in Maryland. Several stores in Maryland are planned: in Columbia in June, Crofton in October and Owings Mills in 2014. The store opened a location in Lanham last year--it's first in Prince George's County.

In 2010, Wegmans received nearly 4,000 requests from people asking for a location to be built in their community,