Wawa hits milestone in NJ with opening of 1,000th store

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Wawa is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th convenience store.

Located at 1006 White Horse Pike in Oaklyn, the Pennsylvania-headquartered gas and food chain officially began welcoming customers April 27, offering free any-size hot coffee all day.

The new store’s built-to-order fresh food kitchen features Wawa’s signature hoagies and latest food innovations as well as coffee, baked goods and specialty beverages—all of which are available via mobile ordering, for curbside pickup and delivery.

Additionally, the location offers packaged good and fuel services.

According to Wawa, Jennifer Low will serve as manager of the new store, leading a team of 50 employees who will receive competitive salaries, health benefits when eligible and participate in the company’s employee stock ownership plan.

Opening day festivities include a proclamation from county and state officials to mark the chain’s 1,000th location and a pep rally with store associates, charity partners, company officials and the Philadelphia Eagles’ pep band, drumline, mascot and cheerleaders.

Also scheduled is a hoagie-building competition between the Oaklyn Police Department and Oaklyn Fire Department to see who can build the most sandwiches in three minutes. Wawa will present both teams with $1,000 checks to each departments’ charity of choice.

Additionally, Wawa distributed $1 million in gift cards to seven national charitable organizations it partners with: American Red Cross, Check Out Hunger, Children’s Miracle Network, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Special Olympics and United Service Organizations, as well as local nonprofits including Meals on Wheels and Eagles Autism Foundation.

Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s chief executive officer, said in a statement, “Since well before we opened our first store more than 59 years ago, Wawa has always been closely connected to the communities we serve – constantly ensuring we’re a good neighbor who provides much more than products and service. It’s so appropriate that we are reaching our 1,000th-store milestone in New Jersey, where we have such a deep history with our origins as a family business and roots dating back more than 200 years.”

“As we mark our sustained growth, we want to thank all our amazing customers and associates for getting us to where we are today. None of this would be possible without you. Here’s to 1,000 and beyond,” he said.

As part of that nationwide expansion effort, Wawa plans to open another 1,800 stores.

In New Jersey, where Wawa has more than 260 locations, the company is gearing up to launch nine more stores this year. While it has not yet announced when the locations will be up and running, a note on Wawa’s website says the grand openings are slated to occur by summer.

According to Wawa, stores are scheduled to open in:

• Ramsey – 966 Route 17 N.
• East Hanover – 28 Route 10
• Lakehurst – 604 Pine St.
• Ocean Township – Route 35 & Deal Road
• Hamilton – 55 Flock Road
• Linden – Route 1 & S. Park Avenue
• Clementon – Blackwood Clementon Road & Cherrywood Drive
• Mount Laurel – 1115 Route 73
• Neptune – 3520 Route 66