Wawa Opens On S.R. 56

As pieces of the building were put together on S.R. 56 just east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., the anticipation built.

The gas pumps went in, the convenience store took shape. The signs were put up, and turned on.

When it will open? How will it open?

Answer: Quietly.

Just like that, on Nov. 28, Wesley Chapel’s first-ever Wawa was open.

No pomp. No circumstance. Just cheap gas, free coffee and deals on the chain’s famous tasty sandwiches.

“Man, I just went to the bank this morning, and the teller asked me if I knew Wawa was open today,’’ said Juan De La Torres, a retired first responder who lives in Seven Oaks. “I was like, ‘What?’” I had just driven by, I didn’t even notice. So, I rushed right over here.”

For many like De La Torres, the opening of the Wesley Chapel Wawa was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. While certainly one of those places with a cultish following like Chick-Fil-A and Costco, this Wawa location eschewed the normal fan-friendly grand opening and chose instead to let local residents be surprised.

“I’m just glad they are finally open,’’ said De La Torres, who snagged himself a free blue Wawa tee-shirt, and then stuck around for the opening ceremonies and a few free samples of things like a ham sub sandwich, peppermint iced coffee and cinnamon oatmeal. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”

Wawa was open for business at 8 a.m., but at 10 a.m., area manager Rich Morton and Wally Goose, the Wawa mascot, welcomed a quickly growing crowd to Wesley Chapel’s newest hot spot.

Two firefighters from Pasco Fire Station 13 in Meadow Pointe, Frank Torres and Bobby LaBella, took on some  of the store’s staffers in a sandwich-making contest — when they weren’t throwing handfuls of shredded lettuce at each other and into the crowd. Torres and LaBella won the contest, earning a big trophy and a couple of $1,000 checks from Wawa to benefit the Firefighters Charities of Pasco.

Everyone posed for pictures. Then, they cut a ribbon. That made it official.

For Morton, it was a big moment. Though he manages a number of Wawas from northern Hillsborough County throughout all of Pasco and Hernando counties, the idea of a new store right across the street from where he lives was exciting.

“Very cool,” Morton said. “I’ve been waiting since I first moved down here four-and-a-half years ago. We bought a home right in (Seven Oaks) right away, and I’ve been waiting for a store close to home.”

Morton had nothing to do with the site selection, but he jokes that he hasn’t been shy about making suggestions as he’s been driving around Wesley Chapel.

“The real estate guys are real frustrated with me, because I’m like ‘Look at this site, look at this site, look at this site,’’’ he said, chuckling.

Morton thinks the current location is perfect, catching a lot of the eastbound traffic between the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Shops at Wiregrass malls. He says this won’t be the last Wawa we see here locally. “We’re definitely opening here again,’’ he said.

A Little History…

Formerly a dairy company, Wawa opened its first food market in Folsom, PA, in 1964. It has expanded to many areas in the mid-Atlantic region, but didn’t come to Florida until one opened in Orlando in 2012. The Wesley Chapel location is the 102nd Wawa store to open in the state since then.

Wawa has succeeded by taking the convenience store concept to another level with competitively-priced gas, fresh drinks and expertly-prepared sandwiches and other quality food items that can be ordered right off an in-store computer touch screen.

“Ninety percent of the time, I just come for the food,’’ said De La Torres.

Wawa’s employees start at $10 per hour, above the minimum wage, and because of the friendly benefits, often stick around for years, if not decades, which has helped the company develop. “You don’t see a lot of companies doing health benefits for part-time employees,’’ Morton said. Taking care of his employees, he adds, trickles down to the customer service, which is often lauded in surveys.

Denise Bee, who lives in Meadow Pointe III, said she was just driving by Monday morning on her way home from a doctor’s appointment when she noticed people walking in and out. Like everyone else, she was surprised that Wawa had finally opened.

And pleased, too.

“It’s about time,’’ said Bee. “I’ve been driving by and watching it go up little by little, wondering if it was close. Now I don’t have to drive all the way to Bearss Ave. to get gas…and hot chocolate.”

Wawa is located at 27866 S.R. 56, across from Sam’s Club, just west of BBD. For more information, visit Wawa.com, or call (302) 758-6873.