Wawa expects up to 25 Jacksonville sites

[avonjax]

I like WaWa. Nice addition. They have pretty decent coffee and often run really great specials. And it's made by real human hands. The free ATM and decent prices help too. I wouldn't drive across town to go to one but if I pass one I would stop ahead of some of the other places. So I guess I'm with PeeJayEss.

[ProjectMaximus]

I wouldn't drive across town to go to one but if I pass one I would stop ahead of some of the other places.

Probably why they want to have 25 across the city 

[jaxjags]

During our trip to the mountains of WV a stop at a Sheetz has become a cult like tradition. Sandwiches and salads are good(of course they aren't Oviente) and inexpensive. One near the Riverside area would be good - food at 4 AM. You don't feel like your getting food at a gas station. WAWA is similar but stores feel different. Either way the competition will raise the bar for the locals.

[JaxJersey-licious]

The differences between Wawa and Sheetz  are subtle but sets themselves world's apart in my view. Both have everything a typical Gate or Daily's has plus touch screen food ordering and quality sandwiches, burgers, and soups, but Wawa's have a bigger in-your-face presence to them with their history, bold lettering, spacious stores, marketing, and how they embrace their Mid-Atlantic roots. Sheetz on the other hand don't seem to market themselves the same way: Their logo is less-obtrusive, the lighting of the stores is more subtle, and their stores are smaller but inside is more cozier plus they make up for it with seating indoors and out (it would also blend in more with a neighborhood like Riverside for those reasons). Also the newer Wawa's have more hectic suburban strip-mall or heavy trafficked highway turn-off locations while many Sheetz locations are in more rural locales where they're not competing with a lot of fast-food places so they are a much more welcomed site especially driving a lot of back road non-interstate central Pennsylvania highways (given they are 24 hours).  Wawa is the place you go to fill up after a long hot day at the shore or amusement park to get last minute drinks and snacks before you get stuck with all the weekend beach traffic. While Sheetz are looked at as more of a beacon, Wawa stores acts more like a floodlight.

...and don't forget the Wawa promos on TV and radio, funny and eye-catching (and a little annoying). Buckle up, Jax!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgR5NwivNI8

[spuwho]

Looks like the first Wawa's will go up at Beach & Central Parkway across from FSCJ.  Sleiman had tried to option the same property to get a 7-11 built there but couldn't find an operator and gave up.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547561

There are already a Murphy Express, Kangaroo Express and a Mobil by the Alhambra 3/4 mile east of this parcel. If it in fact goes through this stretch will be very well served.  Oddly, there is a vacant Citgo sitting a mile west that still shows $4 gas at Beach and 295.

With Central Parkway now connected to Eco Drive (UNF) to the south and FSCJ across the street, this location may get a good collection of students coming and going.

[Flash60]

Gate pushed hard for a mega store in Atlantic Beach - over the objections of many residents. Is Gate gearing up for stiff competition from Wawa?

[tufsu1]

Gate pushed hard for a mega store in Atlantic Beach - over the objections of many residents. Is Gate gearing up for stiff competition from Wawa?

yes....but their food offerings still pale in comparison

[coredumped]

Gate is on the bottom of my list for convince stores. Some are nice, but the bad ones are REALLY bad.
And correct, their food is bad. I have to go to kangaroo to get my dandee sandwiches now.

[thelakelander]

3:45 p.m. update: Wawa considers area a 30-plus store market; fourth local store in Fort Caroline

Wawa Inc. intends to roll into North Florida in a big way, starting with up to five gasoline station-convenience stores by the end of 2017 and at least 30 locations eventually.

Maybe more — think 40.

At a cost of at least $5 million in each location, and 40 jobs per store, the Pennsylvania-based company is looking at an investment of $150 million and a job base of 1,200 in Northeast Florida with those first 30.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547721