New Wawa welcomed in ‘Everybody’s Hometown’
MEDIA » “My Wawa.” Delaware County residents have a habit of using that phrase to identify their regular store, even if they might occasionally patronize others.
Friday, for the grand opening of the newest location – and a flagship store in “Everyone’s Hometown,” that phrase was spoken by no less than Dick Wood, Wawa chairman and descendant of George Wood, who began a small milkprocessing plant in Wawa in 1902.
In speaking of General Manager Denise Haley, a 24year Wawa employee, Wood said, “She was the manager at my Wawa; now I’ll have to come here to see her. It’s the people who work here that create that loyalty.”
Fresh from pumping his own gas at one of the 16 fueling stations, Wood was extremely cordial, not only greeting customers, but extending thanks to dozens of Wawa employees in a variety of positions. He noted the store “looks very different” from the legacy stores, including store number 1, opened in Folsom in 1964. Wood said it was no easy task to move it, but that was exactly what the company did last year.
Whether loyalty, curiosity or opening weekend “freebees,” locals started lining up a short time before doors opened at 8 a.m. A mistake in a Daily Times headline actually sparked some to get in line Thursday, when an item indicated the story was opening “today.”
“We had about 150 customers walking through the door then,” said Haley. “But we had hoagies from our friends and family event, coffee and handed out coupons. We are always ready to troubleshoot problems, and it worked out.”
That says most of what is instilled by way of Wawa’s core values – people, customer service and doing the right things are among them. Customers reap the benefit of Wawa’s culture that now is spread through more than 760 store located from Pennsylvania south through Virginia, and growing numbers in Florida. The culture is also one of giving back and supporting communities. Several financial awards were made yesterday.
While that speaks to the company overall, it’s this specific store that shone yesterday.
“It’s friendly and welcoming. I really like the layout. It seems deluxe and an upgrade from the regular stores,” said Peter Delaplane. “I drive by every day and have seen the progress.”
Dan Langille, a resident of Fourth Street in the borough, has been taking regular walks to the site, often with his wife, Kathy Hill. “The lawn looks immaculate and the fencing is amazing. I like construction. I’m interested in how things work and are done,” said Langille.
As Hill put it, “It’s like taking a walk with a second-grader – he asks all these questions. I like Wawa everywhere because I’m a nurse practitioner, and they are a great place to make pit stops wherever I am.”
Although Matt Heavens, a USPS mail carrier, dropped in to have a look – and admired the store – he expressed his loyalty in another way.
“I’m going to stay at store 100,” Heavens said of the Wawa at Baltimore Avenue and Monroe Street, which is scheduled to be renovated this fall. “It’s right across the street from the post office. I love the people there.”
Heavens is from a longtime Media family, and at 59 recalls the history on that corner, including the Media Inn, the last former structure. “This is where the Media hospital was. We believe my brother, Jack, was the last baby born there.”
Joanne and Bob Tipping, from another family with a great borough lineage, clocked in for the doors to open, and returned for opening festivities. Joanne had been a borough secretary for several years.
“Of course I had to come, after doing all the minutes for meetings over six years,” she said.
Not everyone was within walking distance or even a borough resident. Nancy Mackrides, a Rose Tree Media School Board Director, lives in Edgmont, but she works in a law firm that will ultimately be half way between this store and one planned for Providence Road next to the Media Bypass. Mackrides rated the store beautiful, pretty neat and convenient, and loves the chicken salad in a spinach bowl.
Kudos went out to architect Bob Linn and his staff; Media Real Estate, which is the property owner, and borough officials, who held Wawa to the high standards that produced this store.
“It’s important what impact we make on the community, but what matters most is people,” said Gheysens. “We want to make this the best three or four minutes of your day.”
FYI: The Wawa convenience store and fueling stations operate 24 hours a day at almost all locations other than those with local restrictions on hours.