Wawa

[epzik8]

Reading the Buc-ees thread, people were complaining about the lack of tables and seating to eat.

This was my one and only complaint about the Florence store when I went there last year.

[formulanone]

Reading the Buc-ees thread, people were complaining about the lack of tables and seating to eat.

This was my one and only complaint about the Florence store when I went there last year.

I wonder if they want to reduce the "mall dad" effect: Walking gawkers are more likely to spend than those sitting on their wallet.

They'd probably need lots of tables to offset the waiting freeloaders and picnickers along with the paying customers.

[jeffandnicole]

Reading the Buc-ees thread, people were complaining about the lack of tables and seating to eat. Folks at Wawa adapt and just have a DelCo picnic using the top of trashcans as a makeshift table. Some of the newer stores (particularly in FL) finally have some outdoor seating areas.

Wawa at the time mentioned this change about actual seating - they recognized the Florida market is generally slower-paced than the Philly/DC area market, and they had determined people would want to sit and eat at the store. 

Revised PA law made it easier for convenience stores to sell beer, but they also have an odd rule (because PA just needs to continue being odd) that requires stores to have a seating area for people to drink a beer after purchasing it.  Shocker - people aren't purchasing beer then drinking it at the store.  But they are now building and modifying PA stores for this seating area.

I also came across this article from Wawa's rival:  https://www.delawareonline.com/story/money/business/2023/03/16/sheetz-is-coming-to-elkton-approaching-delaware-and-wawa/69977812007/ .  The question was raised if Sheetz is coming to Delaware. The question wasn't answered by Sheetz, and "industry observers" think they may come to Delaware.  19 months later, and so far they're incorrect.  While some believe they won't enter NJ because of the full-service law, they haven't entered NY & DE either, so they may have other reasons also.

[Rothman]

Stewart's ice cream > Sheetz

[Ted$8roadFan]

Reading the Buc-ees thread, people were complaining about the lack of tables and seating to eat. Folks at Wawa adapt and just have a DelCo picnic using the top of trashcans as a makeshift table. Some of the newer stores (particularly in FL) finally have some outdoor seating areas.

Wawa at the time mentioned this change about actual seating - they recognized the Florida market is generally slower-paced than the Philly/DC area market, and they had determined people would want to sit and eat at the store. 

Revised PA law made it easier for convenience stores to sell beer, but they also have an odd rule (because PA just needs to continue being odd) that requires stores to have a seating area for people to drink a beer after purchasing it.  Shocker - people aren't purchasing beer then drinking it at the store.  But they are now building and modifying PA stores for this seating area.

I also came across this article from Wawa's rival:  https://www.delawareonline.com/story/money/business/2023/03/16/sheetz-is-coming-to-elkton-approaching-delaware-and-wawa/69977812007/ .  The question was raised if Sheetz is coming to Delaware. The question wasn't answered by Sheetz, and "industry observers" think they may come to Delaware.  19 months later, and so far they're incorrect.  While some believe they won't enter NJ because of the full-service law, they haven't entered NY & DE either, so they may have other reasons also.

Not Wawa-related, but I bought beer at a ShopRite in Scranton, PA last week. There were a couple of guys drinking a beer in the seating area of the beer section. In the morning. So I guess it is legal in some context.

[Mr. Matté]

While some believe they won't enter NJ because of the full-service law, they haven't entered NY & DE either, so they may have other reasons also.

I think New York's issue is that they require full fire suppression infrastructure at (I guess new) gas station canopies. I don't know if Delaware has any weird laws on gas stations.

[jeffandnicole]

While some believe they won't enter NJ because of the full-service law, they haven't entered NY & DE either, so they may have other reasons also.

I think New York's issue is that they require full fire suppression infrastructure at (I guess new) gas station canopies. I don't know if Delaware has any weird laws on gas stations.

Yeah - there's where I start wondering if these are just reasons people are making up for Sheetz.  Most gas station companies aren't in all markets, so nearly all of them have various reasons why they choose what territories they are going to build in.

[02 Park Ave]

I consider Wawa and Sheetz to be at a comparable level of quality.  Sheetz though does offer a greater variety of gasolines at their pumps.

I would put Stewarts and Royal Farms to be at a lower level of quality.  Stewarts does offer ethanol-free premium gasoline in most counties in New York State though.

I am not familiar with Quick Chek.  However they will be coming to southern New Jersey so that will change.

[vdeane]

I would put Stewarts and Royal Farms to be at a lower level of quality.  Stewarts does offer ethanol-free premium gasoline in most counties in New York State though.

I am not familiar with Quick Chek.  However they will be coming to southern New Jersey so that will change.

Yeah, Stewarts isn't quite on the level with Sheetz and Wawa (though unlike most Wawa locations and even some Sheetz locations, they do offer in-store seating).  And it feels like it's sliding down a bit... the food quality isn't what I remember it being even 5 years ago, the windshield squeegees aren't maintained as well, and when I tried to refuel today, gas was cash only.

IMO QuickChek is up there with Sheetz and Wawa.  Maybe slightly below, but only just.  And we're getting one in the Capital District soon - right off Northway exit 3!

[jeffandnicole]

IMO QuickChek is up there with Sheetz and Wawa.  Maybe slightly below, but only just.  And we're getting one in the Capital District soon - right off Northway exit 3!

I don't think I've bought food at QuickChek, but this was my take on it too from what I've seen and heard. 

[D-Dey65]

Reading the Buc-ees thread, people were complaining about the lack of tables and seating to eat. Folks at Wawa adapt and just have a DelCo picnic using the top of trashcans as a makeshift table. Some of the newer stores (particularly in FL) finally have some outdoor seating areas.

The Wawa near me used to have picnic tables, but then a bunch of kids who hang out there were having fights at the place, and they tore them out. If you want to eat at Wawa, you'd have to go to Brooksville.

[NJRoadfan]

Wawa will be opening their first travel center catering to truckers.... in Hope Mills, North Carolina.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/wawa-kentico-prod/wawa/media/press-releases/080825_date-annoucement-for-first-wawa-travel-center-opening_final_1.pdf

Also announced was an expansion into Tennessee.

Regarding QuickChek, they had to up their game to compete with Wawa. Their stores weren't nearly as nice back when I was a kid. Murphy USA bought out the chain in 2021, so no surprise they are starting to expand outside of Northern NJ into other markets.

[vdeane]

Regarding QuickChek, they had to up their game to compete with Wawa. Their stores weren't nearly as nice back when I was a kid. Murphy USA bought out the chain in 2021, so no surprise they are starting to expand outside of Northern NJ into other markets.

I didn't even know they had been bought out.  The experience seems the same and they had already been expanding into NY before.  They're actually looking to expand into the Albany, NY area fairly aggressively - I know of 5 planned sites, and I'm sure there are more.  I'm looking forward to them giving Stewarts some competition when it comes to convenience store food.

When I'm on the road, I generally look for them over Wawa.  Wawa doesn't have a place to eat my lunch, QuickChek does, so it's an easy decision.

[74/171FAN]

When I'm on the road, I generally look for them over Wawa.  Wawa doesn't have a place to eat my lunch, QuickChek does, so it's an easy decision.

I am unsure about others in the Harrisburg area, but I know the one in Middletown along PA 230 has a seating area so they are starting to buy into them.  Royal Farms tends to have seating at least at their new locations, but I am sure there are older locations without them on the Eastern Shore.

(Of course, I have never cared about myself eating in my car, and with my chances of even going on a date being slim at best, that will probably not change any time soon.)

[vdeane]

When I'm on the road, I generally look for them over Wawa.  Wawa doesn't have a place to eat my lunch, QuickChek does, so it's an easy decision.

I am unsure about others in the Harrisburg area, but I know the one in Middletown along PA 230 has a seating area so they are starting to buy into them.  Royal Farms tends to have seating at least at their new locations, but I am sure there are older locations without them on the Eastern Shore.

(Of course, I have never cared about myself eating in my car, and with my chances of even going on a date being slim at best, that will probably not change any time soon.)

I know a few newer stores have them, though it's still sparse.  I used one on PA 291 on the drive back from some roadmeet (feels a little close for Philadelphia, so maybe it was South Central PA).  I think there's one on US 1 Business that I might use if things work out for me attending the Harrisburg meet next year.

I've also been known to grab dinner from Wawa when I'm staying near one.

[roadman65]

I see in Hope Mills, NC they're opening a Wawa Travel Center off I-95.  Truck parking and indoor seating it will feature unlike other Wawas.