Wawa expects up to 25 Jacksonville sites

[thelakelander]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

Wawa Inc. has one site under contract and several more in review for its entrance into Northeast Florida with five or six stores — and expects 20-25 over time.
"We are all in for our efforts in Jacksonville," Wawa Regional Real Estate Manager Brian Duke said Thursday.

Wawa is the popular Pennsylvania-based convenience store and gas station chain that launched its Florida presence in July 2012 in Central Florida.

It has opened 87 locations in the state at a pace of one every two weeks, Duke said.

At an estimated minimum $5 million capital investment for each store, not counting the cost of real estate, Wawa's initial Northeast Florida investment is at least $25 million to $30 million.

Each Wawa hires 40-50 full- and part-time employees, so the initial area wave would create up to 300 jobs.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546945

[PeeJayEss]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[JaxJersey-licious]

If you also bring in Sheetz from PA you'll see those Gate stores singing a different tune or go the way of Lil' Champ and Majik Market 

[coredumped]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Other than the name, how does this differ from any other decent gas station (Pilot/7-eleven/flagship gate store)

[I-10east]

^^^Exactly. Add Daily's to that list too. Wawa: the Macy's of gas stations.

[fieldafm]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Other than the name, how does this differ from any other decent gas station (Pilot/7-eleven/flagship gate store)

Wawa stores have very decent made to order sandwiches. Much better than the offerings at Daily's Dash.

Frankly, I'd drive past several sub chains to get to a Wawas if I was looking for a quick, sandwich on the go.

[thelakelander]

^^^Exactly. Add Daily's to that list too. Wawa: the Macy's of gas stations.

Nothing really is that black and white. To be specific, Pilot is a travel center (truck stop with gas station and a few quick service restaurant chains included). Their competitors are Love's and TA.

7-Elevens are typically smaller scaled convenience stores that don't necessarily include fueling pumps. Circle K would be more comparable to 7-Eleven than a Pilot or Love's.

WAWA would be more comparable to the newer Gate and Daily's gas stations. Over the years, they've built a cult like following in the northeast partially due to their fresh food offerings. One could probably argue that chains like WAWA had directly lead to Gate and Daily's attempting to step their game up recently. Btw, WAWA is also planning to add 120 stores in South Florida.

[PeeJayEss]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Other than the name, how does this differ from any other decent gas station (Pilot/7-eleven/flagship gate store)

Once you've experienced Wawa, you won't consider those to be decent gas stations. And it has nothing to do with the gas.

[Houseboat Mike]

So are their deli sandwiches on the level of Publix?

[I-10east]

I went to a Wawa's in Brevard County and got a sandwich, It's okay, I wasn't salivating with every bite by no means; I'd definitely rather go to Firehouse for a sandwich. I been to Sheetz while heading to Knoebels; The thing that stuck out there were the good sodas from the Northeast. I don't get these supposed 'higher end' gas places that supposed to me me stop going to a regular BP, Gate, etc somewhere, but whatever, as long as those additions make everyone happy...Don't get me wrong, I love it when new companies come to Jax, but will I drive outta the way to get food at a Wawa? Absolutely not.   

[thelakelander]

I don't think they'll stop people from going to get cheap gas. However, if they offer something you seek and do a better job at it than existing places, you'll seek them for that particular product. It's really no different from having multiple options for groceries (ex. Aldi, Publix, Trader Joe's, Winn-Dixie, Sav-a-lot, Walmart, Earth Fare, Fresh Market, Native Sun, etc.). They all sell food. However, they all have their niches.

[blizz01]

RaceTrac's been stepping & prepping too (all of the new locations are going through conversions):

http://www.cspnet.com/industry-news-analysis/corporate-news/articles/how-racetrac-plans-attract-more-tracfanatics

[I-10east]

Fair enough Lake.

[Spitfire]

If you also bring in Sheetz from PA you'll see those Gate stores singing a different tune or go the way of Lil' Champ and Majik Market 

I visited my friend in Ohio a few years back and fell in love with Sheetz. If only!

[Gunnar]

If you also bring in Sheetz from PA you'll see those Gate stores singing a different tune or go the way of Lil' Champ and Majik Market 

I visited my friend in Ohio a few years back and fell in love with Sheetz. If only!

Stopped at Sheetz on a trip to and from PA and really liked their food and coffee plus it was overall very nice and clean.