Bay Area's first Wawa opens in Pinellas Park - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Bay Area's first Wawa opens in Pinellas Park

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From the outside, Wawa looks like a nicer than average gas station and convenience store. On the inside it's a deli and coffee bar. The northeastern chain opens on Gandy Blvd. in Pinellas Park Friday. But what is a Wawa, anyway?

"The Indians a long time ago named the geese in Canada Wawa," Todd Souders, Wawa's Florida operations Director, said. "Also we are from Wawa, PA. So not only are we Wawa like the bird but it's also where we come from."

Once you get over the name and through the door, you'll find a sandwich bar. You order everything from a touch screen and can specialize the order.

"We do sell fuel but when you walk through the door you walk into our kitchen," Souders said. "You'll see all our folks working in our kitchen making our hoagies from rolls that are baked fresh in the store every four hours. At least every four hours."

Another fan favorite (and Wawa has a lot of fans, more than 1 million on Facebook) is the coffee bar. You can self-serve or get special Espresso, Mocha, and Latte drinks made for you.

The store is just one of five opening in the Bay Area in the next five weeks. Souders says he hopes to eventually open 100 stores in Central Florida.

 

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