Another Wawa outlet set to appear in area

Margate joins list of locations

All of a sudden, it seems like Wawa stores are falling from the skies like thunderstorms in July.

Margate is now on the list of confirmed locations for the Pennsylvania-based gas station/sandwich shop/convenience store chain.

In early February, the Margate City Commission unanimously approved plans to build a Wawa at the southeast corner of the intersection of North State Road 7 and Copans Road, where it will be easily accessible to northbound commuters.

Plans for the store have been in the works since October 2015 in an application to the western Broward city’s Development Review Committee for a “nationally recognized chain with a loyal following” with 16 gas pumps and “food made to order or prepackaged, including sandwiches, salads, wraps and fresh fruit.”

The cat wriggled out of the bag Feb. 3 with the commission’s enthusiastic approval.

Ben Ziskal, Margate’s development review director, said “the closing of a number of gas stations within the city over the past decade have left us undersupplied, particularly for northbound traffic.”

In 2014, the city turned down a proposal for a 24-pump RaceTrac station at North State Road 7 and Northwest 31st Street, about a mile north, after residents of adjacent residential communities objected. Bordered by commercial properties, the Wawa proposal faced no such objections.

Last year, the company’s CEO announced plans to build 50 stores in the region over the next five years.

Last week, the chain announced March 23 as the grand-opening day for its first three area stores. Specific locations would be announced soon, a company spokeswoman said. Wawa’s website states that stores in Lake Worth, Riviera Beach, Palm Springs and West Palm Beach will open in spring.

In Broward County, construction is underway on a store at Sample Road and Federal Highway in Pompano Beach, while 2017 openings are also planned for stores in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Parkland, Sunrise and Greenacres, the spokeswoman said.

A second Pompano store, on West Atlantic Boulevard near Interstate 95, is in the planning stages.

WAWA/COURTESY Wawa sells food made to order or prepackaged, including sandwiches, salads, wraps and fresh fruit.