Wawa unveils new store format
Wawa has gone small.
The convenience store retailer debuted a new store format in Philadelphia’s Center City. The store marks the debut of the chain’s first-ever pick-up window, which allows for speedy service via mobile orders and online orders.
At 3,000 sq. ft., the new location is half the size of a standard Wawa. In addition to the pickup window, a new "Good To Go" section includes a variety of hot and cold express items (including the chain’s first hot-to-go case) for customers to grab, pay and go on their way. Also new is a self-serve hot tea bar.
“At Wawa, we strive to accommodate our customers in multiple ways and this new store design is geared towards meeting the needs of our local community members who require quick food options without sacrificing fresh and quality ingredients to fuel their daily routine,” said David Simonetti, senior director of store operations for Wawa.
The new store will aim to reduce its environmental footprint by introducing compostable straws, reusable bags and an option to purchase a reusable mug for coffee or hot beverages.
The privately owned Wawa operates more than 880 convenience stores (over 600 offering fuel) in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.
• New line of “Good To Go,” City officials and Welcome America leadership will join grand opening festivities to celebrate Wawa’s longstanding title sponsorship of the annual Wawa Welcome America Festival and publicly announce Wawa’s commitment as title sponsor of the annual festival through 2024; translating into free programming, entertainment and continuing the City of Philadelphia’s tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July in the birthplace of our Independence.
• In a continued effort to reduce the chronically homeless street population in the City of Philadelphia, Wawa will join forces with founding members from PA Convention Center, PREIT, among others to announce its support of PHL Cares, an initiative aimed at providing permanent supportive housing units for 100 homeless people.
To honor the bravery of our everyday heroes, the grand opening event will conclude with a signature Hoagies for Heroes, hoagie building competition where teams from Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia Fire Department will face off to see who can build the most hoagies in three minutes in the traditional Wawa way. Wawa will conclude the Hoagies for Heroes competitions by presenting checks on behalf of the winning and runner up teams, for $1,000 to the charities of their choice.