What’s the fuss about Wawa? Why people love it, but why 7-Eleven, Sheetz have fans, too
News of Wawa’s forthcoming arrival in North Carolina stoked a feverish reaction over the weekend.
“The Taj Mahal of convenience stores,” a Wawa fan posted on Twitter. “Envious of my Raleigh friends today.”
The Pennsylvania-based convenience store and gas station chain has not confirmed exactly where it will open, and whether Raleigh is even the lucky destination. But a spokesperson told media outlets the company would open in North Carolina by 2024.
Wawa will join a competitive market of full-service fuel and food options, including Sheetz and some future 7-Elevens, each with their own schools of fans.
So why is there such a fuss over Wawa? Let’s dig in.
What is Wawa?
Wawa employs more than 35,000 workers at about 900 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.
Its convenience stores and gas stations are often found along interstate exits, attracting travelers from around the country.
But the chain has never ventured into North Carolina. The closest options for Triangle residents are scattered across Southern Virginia — about two hours away.
The chain is popular for its inexpensive food and robust coffee selection. For about a dollar, one can buy any-sized coffee with more than 100 different ingredient combinations. Wawa’s famous hoagie is a nod to the company’s northern roots, and the “Sizzli” — a customizable, hot breakfast sandwich — is a fan favorite.
The announcement of Wawa’s imminent opening in North Carolina evoked scores of enthusiastic posts from Wawa worshipers across social media.
“I will literally cry,” one loyalist tweeted. “Not having to drive to Virginia or Florida just to get Wawa is literally the best thing I could’ve heard all year.”
Why do people love Sheetz?
Sheetz, also headquartered in Pennsylvania, might command the largest North Carolina following with more than 100 locations employing about 3,000 workers.
Sheetz founder Bob Sheetz opened the company’s first store in 1952, and the chain has since expanded across several states from Ohio to North Carolina.
In 2019, Sheetz opened its 100th North Carolina location. There are now about 20 in the Triangle, according to the company’s website.
“This is cool,” one Twitter user said about Wawa’s announcement. “But Sheetz is still better.”
Its locations operate 24/7, 365 days a year, serving fan-favorite mozzarella sticks, jalapeno popperz and two-for-$1 hot dogs. Menus also include saladz, sliderz, subz and more.
7-Eleven returns to North Carolina
In December, the N&O reported 7-Eleven’s impending arrival in North Carolina, decades after it exited the state in the 1980s.
7-Eleven’s parent, Tokyo-based Seven & i Holdings Company, purchased about 3,800 Speedway outlets in May from the Marathon Petroleum Company. 7-Eleven did not respond to an inquiry from the N&O, but several local Speedway franchises seem poised for a makeover.
The South Saunders Speedway in Raleigh will be razed and replaced with a new 7-Eleven, according to location employees. And the South Miami Boulevard Speedway has already installed 7-Eleven equipment, including the machine that produces the Slurpee frozen drinks that are synonymous with the chain.
“Basically it’s all going to be better and should bring in more customers, more everything,” said Dontell Turner, a worker at the South Miami site who said managers had filled employees in on the plans. “It’ll be different food, different drinks, different products.”
7-Eleven devotees love it for the company’s signature Slurpee, a summertime favorite, and the classic Big Gulp. The store features bargain promotions on various foods, including a “three pizza slices for $3” deal and the ever-popular taquito.
Three new 7-Elevens are under construction in the Triangle, according to the company’s franchise website: at Airport Boulevard and Perimeter Park in Morrisville; at Louisburg Road and Calvary Drive in Raleigh; and “TBD Green Level” in Cary. All three are slated to open in mid to late summer.
Could Buc-ee’s come to North Carolina?
In 2020, Buc-ee’s, a beloved Texas convenience store chain, started pursuing a project in rural Orange County before withdrawing its pitch in 2021 following community push back.
The company wanted to build a 425,000-square-foot development on a 104-acre site at Interstates 85/40 near the Alamance County line. It would have been anchored by a 64,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s Travel Center with 60 dual-sided gas pumps.
Buc-ee’s is most famous for its snacks, including caramel-coated corn puff Beaver Nuggets, and for its award-winning “cleanest restrooms in America.” The chain also serves homemade fudge, fresh-baked pastries and barbecue.
Buc-ee’s has been silent about future North Carolina plans after abandoning its Orange County project. But Buc-ee’s is investigating expansion opportunities across several southern states and may still vie for a North Carolina location.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 3:48 PM.
