I thought the bottom of the new building on 12th and Market was going to be a WAWA? (Philadelphia: to buy, live)

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

WaWa isn't national. It's an east coast chain. They've moved a few stores into North Jersey & they go down to Petersburg, VA, then show up in Florida.

They do have around 800 locations, which is huge. For example, Whole Foods has less than 500 locations throughout the US. Granted, Wawa stores are much smaller.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

WaWa isn't national. It's an east coast chain. They've moved a few stores into North Jersey & they go down to Petersburg, VA, then show up in Florida.

Close enough.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

They do have around 800 locations, which is huge. For example, Whole Foods has less than 500 locations throughout the US. Granted, Wawa stores are much smaller.

Well, at least they're company owned, unlike 7-11, although 7-11 does have some company owned locations.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Close enough.

Try a Quick Trip aka QT. Then tell me that WaWa is crappy.

[PHLondoner]

Wawa is **by far** the best convenient store in the country. That's the point. Now, that's a bit like boasting that as a chef you're the best peanut, butter and jelly sandwich maker in the country. It's not a prestige thing, it's not meant to be. In general (especially the large suburban super pumpers), it's clean, bright, fast, and cheap. For breakfast, you can get a cup of coffee and a sizzli to go for about $4 and be out the door in less than a minute. That's the price of a rival brothers cold brew.

No one is comparing it to Eataly.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by PHLondoner

Wawa is **by far** the best convenient store in the country. That's the point. Now, that's a bit like boasting that as a chef you're the best peanut, butter and jelly sandwich maker in the country. It's not a prestige thing, it's not meant to be. In general (especially the large suburban super pumpers), it's clean, bright, fast, and cheap. For breakfast, you can get a cup of coffee and a sizzli to go for about $4 and be out the door in less than a minute. That's the price of a rival brothers cold brew.

No one is comparing it to Eataly.

This article is a great way to explain the allure:

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-...told-lengths-3

But I think the answer to my original question was mentioned in an earlier post. If I were to come along a Wawa while traveling on I-80, hungry and needing gas, I would be very very happy. If I were traveling to the beach or going to tailgate, I would be very very happy. What confuses me is that people are equally excited about it in the city, something that is not of interest to me...unless it was a storm and nothing else was open, like cpomp experienced. Otherwise, they end up dirty, crowded, and less desirable. That's JMO.

[wharton]

Originally Posted by PHLondoner

Wawa is **by far** the best convenient store in the country. That's the point. Now, that's a bit like boasting that as a chef you're the best peanut, butter and jelly sandwich maker in the country. It's not a prestige thing, it's not meant to be. In general (especially the large suburban super pumpers), it's clean, bright, fast, and cheap. For breakfast, you can get a cup of coffee and a sizzli to go for about $4 and be out the door in less than a minute. That's the price of a rival brothers cold brew.

No one is comparing it to Eataly.

Somebody who actually gets what it's all about



As for all these, "I can remember when their hoagies were good, back in the day". Pleeeasee. The place is a gold mine, and there are hundreds, to thousands, of hoagies heading out the door of every one of them, every day. I don't care which one you pick, but at lunch time, standing with 20-30 other customers, and having a hoagie in your hand a few minutes after you did the touch screen order, is their specialty. It's who they are. As for all this silliness about how they aren't the really, really tasty sandwiches that they are..........stop, who are you kidding? It's a classic hoagie with decent ingredients and a quality, fresh roll. If you want to spend $5 bucks, and think you are owed a three star restaurant experience, you are in the wrong place.

Add the fresh made hoagies, and a zillion other food choices, great coffee, great soft pretzels, and giant, well run, clean facilities (at least in the burbs) and the place is, was, and will continue to be a home run. Sheetz, Royal Farms, Rutters? Nothing but wannabees. Once you lower your standards to the 7-11 level, Wawa starts to look like fine dining.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Try a Quick Trip aka QT. Then tell me that WaWa is crappy.

Where did I say Wawa was crappy???? I said most of their prepared food is crappy, which it is. Its fast and convenient and fine to eat (I used to go there before I moved, and still take Philly newbies to Wawa).

I grew up with Wawa, my whole point was that it has turned into a monster corporation, it doesn't bother me, but that is what happens when companies grow.

Regarding the experience in general, suburban Wawas are perfectly fine, but the city ones (minus a few) have a bad element to them.

I even said its the best convenient store, but I don't think its amazing... sheesh

I do agree with Karen on this one, seems like people are traitors if they do not praise everything about Wawa.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Where did I say Wawa was crappy???? I said most of their prepared food is crappy, which it is. Its fast and convenient and fine to eat (I used to go there before I moved, and still take Philly newbies to Wawa).

I grew up with Wawa, my whole point was that it has turned into a monster corporation, it doesn't bother me, but that is what happens when companies grow.

Regarding the experience in general, suburban Wawas are perfectly fine, but the city ones (minus a few) have a bad element to them.

I even said its the best convenient store, but I don't think its amazing... sheesh

I do agree with Karen on this one, seems like people are traitors if they do not praise everything about Wawa.

Yes, you said that the food is crappy & that's your right. I suggested that you try out Quick Trip. Then if you want to try calling WaWa's food crappy you've crappy to compare with it. It's not fine dining. It's convenience store food.

[1ondoner]

I like Wawa. Actually, I wish they had seating because I don't do to-go and I honestly hate eating in the car. Some Wawa's have a benches outside but they are at the front of the store facing the gas pumps.

I've been to Sheetz and they don't come close to Wawa. However, I think they target a different demographic.