According to The Sun , A prominent convenience store chain has confirmed the closure of its third location in Philadelphia this month.
Shoppers arriving at the Wawa store located at 16th and Ranstead in the Center City District were greeted with a notice on the door announcing the permanent shutdown, with shelves largely empty. The closure, which will take place on December 8, 2024, is a part of a larger trend of Wawa store closures in the area.
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1902, Wawa began as a dairy company and has since grown into a well-known convenience store chain with over 1,000 locations across 10 East Coast states, many of which include gas stations. Wawa is popular for its wide variety of grocery items, as well as its fully-equipped kitchen offering made-to-order food and drinks.
However, the Center City Wawa, which was originally opened in 2020 as a pilot for a smaller urban store concept, will close due to its inability to provide the full Wawa experience. The store, which included a walk-up window, was too small to meet the expectations of customers. A Wawa spokesperson explained that the concept test was ultimately unsuccessful.
In light of the closure, Wawa has directed customers to visit other nearby locations, including stores at 1707 Arch Street and 912-916 Walnut Street.
Local residents, such as Ci’Yon Tribble, expressed disappointment over the closure, noting the convenience of the location for those without cars. “Some people don’t have a car. This is a walkable city,” Tribble said. “And we don’t want to Uber just to get Wawa.”
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Despite the closure, Wawa assured that all employees at the Center City location were offered positions at nearby stores.
This marks the third Wawa location to close in Philadelphia in 2024, bringing the total number of closures to nine since 2020. Various factors, such as decreased sales during the pandemic, theft, and safety concerns, have contributed to these shutdowns.
Even with these closures, Wawa is continuing to expand. The company has announced plans to open 15 new locations in 2025, followed by 10 more in 2026. Wawa also recently celebrated new store openings in North Carolina.
In addition to the closures in Philadelphia, another Wawa location in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, shut down after nearly 50 years in October.
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