Wawa worship despite low-quality gas, mediocre sandwiches, and bad pretzels (Reading: neighborhoods, prices)

[2e1m5a]

It is the consistency of the products and the fact it is open 24 Hours everyday of the year. It usually offers the cheapest gas, coffee and cigarettes (their biggest sellers probably).


7/11 is about the only competition in this region, although even 7/11 hardly ever has gas as well, and their products are a noticeable downgrade in quality. I've never heard anything bad about Wawa gas, but I'm sure it helps their image that they always seem to offer the lowest gas prices compared to local competition.


People like convenience and consistency---Wawa is both. Although I agree that the Hoagies are not as good as they used to be when they used Amoroso. I have to admit Sheetz seems like it offers Wawa serious competition, and maybe why they don't expand into each other's territory? I have only been to Sheetz once in Harrisburg but can't compare the food because I didn't really try much.

[Duderino]

Yeah, I think the die-hard Wawa fandom/worship is very much the result of its business model, offerings, and quality in comparison ONLY to other convenience store/gas station establishments (in which case, yes, places like 7-11, Cumberland Farms, and any essentially any other "quick stop" type market you'll find out there attached to a gas station [with the exception of Sheetz] is very clearly and vastly inferior to Wawa).

Otherwise, no, no one should turn Wawa into what it's not (i.e., a "fine dining" establishment with perfectly crafted food).

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

I like Wawa, just like everyone else. However, I’ve been told by multiple auto mechanics that their gas is substandard. Their soft pretzels are, for the most part, awful. Their sandwiches are so-so; I find their chicken salad and egg salad to be very good, but their Italian hoagies not as good as they should be. And, the bread is not top tier. That being said, they are good when you’re in a hurry.

I guess the point of this post is to see if others agree, and to figure out why the company is worshipped by so many in this region. Shouldn’t they up their game, or don’t they have to, given the aforementioned praise and worship they already receive?

I'm a native Philadelphian. I don't worship them and never have. And btw, they exist in Virginia if that means anything.

One can get better hoagies at local mom and pop shops. I have a few of those I can go to in my neighborhood, plus a real non chain grocery store, so I don't need anything from Wawas.

People like convenience and are creatures of habit so it's easy for lots of people to keep going to Wawas.

Local food oriented companies that actually care about quality even when they expand to other metros are the Starr Group/Constellation/Parliament(Stephen Starr) and La Colombe. Example of this: the Starr group is currently running the food operations at the NY Historical Society which is in NYC on Central Park West. Both the sit down restaurant and coffee shop cafe are superb.

Tbh, we've had several threads/discussions about Wawa. No harm in having another one, I guess.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I'm a native Philadelphian. I don't worship them and never have. And btw, they exist in Virginia if that means anything.

One can get better hoagies at local mom and pop shops. I have a few of those I can go to in my neighborhood, plus a real non chain grocery store, so I don't need anything from Wawas.

People like convenience and are creatures of habit so it's easy for lots of people to keep going to Wawas.

Local food oriented companies that actually care about quality even when they expand to other metros are the Starr Group/Constellation/Parliament(Stephen Starr) and La Colombe. Example of this: the Starr group is currently running the food operations at the NY Historical Society which is in NYC on Central Park West. Both the sit down restaurant and coffee shop cafe are superb.

Tbh, we've had several threads/discussions about Wawa. No harm in having another one, I guess.

That's why I go to Starbucks for my morning coffee

[eliza61nyc]

Ok see I hate these ridiculous statements.

1) yes you can get better sandwiches else where. You can also get better burgers than Mcdonalds. So if you go to a fast food or a convenience store and expect 4 star dining, I don't want you to fix my car because I have doubts about your intelligence.

2) Pretzels. I think philly pretzels are ALL over hyped. they are a dry snack. they all get hard after a few hours.
3) I don't find the gas subparb at all, I've been filing up on premium for years and never had any gas related issues at all.
4) want to talk about overhyped and over priced, let's talk Starbucks.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

I'm a native Philadelphian. I don't worship them and never have. And btw, they exist in Virginia if that means anything.

One can get better hoagies at local mom and pop shops. I have a few of those I can go to in my neighborhood, plus a real non chain grocery store, so I don't need anything from Wawas.

People like convenience and are creatures of habit so it's easy for lots of people to keep going to Wawas.

Local food oriented companies that actually care about quality even when they expand to other metros are the Starr Group/Constellation/Parliament(Stephen Starr) and La Colombe. Example of this: the Starr group is currently running the food operations at the NY Historical Society which is in NYC on Central Park West. Both the sit down restaurant and coffee shop cafe are superb.

Tbh, we've had several threads/discussions about Wawa. No harm in having another one, I guess.

WaWa goes down the I 95 corridor to Petersburg. Once you hit North Carolina you run into Sheetz, Kangaroo Express, & Quick Trip, randomly. WaWa could clean up there but opted for Florida instead. Once you go south of NC, Quick Trip is about as good as it gets, and it's not as good as WaWa, by a long shot.

Skipping from Virginia to Florida seems like a weird idea. Aldi is now selling Amorosso rolls in the Piedmont of NC, aka the I 95 - I 85 corridor. By far, that area has the bulk of the state's population, as well as the largest number of people with ties to the Delaware Valley, going back to most of the 20th century. That section of North Carolina has ties back to the 18th century.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

WaWa goes down the I 95 corridor to Petersburg. Once you hit North Carolina you run into Sheetz, Kangaroo Express, & Quick Trip, randomly. WaWa could clean up there but opted for Florida instead. Once you go south of NC, Quick Trip is about as good as it gets, and it's not as good as WaWa, by a long shot.

Skipping from Virginia to Florida seems like a weird idea. Aldi is now selling Amorosso rolls in the Piedmont of NC, aka the I 95 - I 85 corridor. By far, that area has the bulk of the state's population, as well as the largest number of people with ties to the Delaware Valley, going back to most of the 20th century. That section of North Carolina has ties back to the 18th century.

Why no expansion North? Into New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts? Surely the chain would be a hit anywhere.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Why no expansion North? Into New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts? Surely the chain would be a hit anywhere.

That's a question for the corporate office. They started moving south and have continued in that direction, that's why I kept it to a southward movement.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Why no expansion North? Into New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts? Surely the chain would be a hit anywhere.

That's a really good question, but my knee-jerk response would be limited market coupled with substantially higher real estate and cost in general. Obviously NYC would be out, as there is a deli or better option food within literally 100 feet in any direction; and of course no need for fuel (which is a huge money maker for WaWa). Then you have Boston, which seems to tick along with public transportation, so limited fuel potential as well.

The secondary markets seem to be much more ritzy and the residents probably have limited desire to stop at a glorified convenience store. I can't imagine a lot of executives from White Plains, Westchester or Fairfield asking their personal drivers to make a stop at WaWa on the way back from their Manhattan offices.

Finally, getting past those larger secondary markets, the population is just thin in a lot of the New England states.

These are complete guesses, and could be completely incorrect, BTW. , but if anyone knows for sure, I'd be interested in finding out...

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I also have found it interesting that people always seem to question Wawa and why Philadelphia people are "obsessed" with it. If Wawa were a New York thing, I guarantee no one would question it. Kind of a cheap shot.

I am suburban Philadelphia born and raised, I started this thread, but I agree with your premise. Yes, if Wawa were a New York thing, no one would question it because, well, everything in NY is perfect/superior/urbane/sophisticated/high-caliber/etc.

However, I stand by my original post, which was not meant as a cheap shot at this region, but more as a shot against Wawa: Stop selling low-quality gas, make better hoagies, and improve your soft pretzels.