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Website: https://www.wawa.com/
Celebration included Free any size hot coffee, charitable contributions, and recognition of everyday heroes
(FREDERICKSBURG, VA) June 8, 2023 – Wawa, Inc., today announced the grand opening of its newest store located at 860 Richmond Hwy., Fredericksburg, VA 22405 on Thursday, June 8th. Local friends and neighbors were invited at 8:00 a.m. to join General Manager Erica Sullivan and officials, who helped do the honors of counting down the moment when the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. for the very first time. This ceremonial start gave a nod to the power of positivity and kindness that naturally occurs when Wawa customers hold the door for one another, celebrating a gesture that happens thousands of times a day at Wawa stores and makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated.
“We opened our first Wawa store in Fredericksburg in April 1998 and it gives us goosebumps to be back where it all started in Fredericksburg to open our newest store and celebrate our 25th anniversary and our continued commitment to Fulfilling Lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s President and CEO. “We are so grateful to our associates, customers and community for your years of support and are proud to give back to our charity partners in honor of this milestone celebration.”
The first 100 customers through the door on June 8th received a limited-edition “Wawa Coffee, Hoagies & Kindness” t-shirts, while supplies lasted. All customers can enjoy free coffee from June 8th through June 11th.
“Congratulations to the Wawa team for their continued investment in Stafford County! Wawa is a truly great business partner in the region and fantastic addition to the Centreport area,” said Meg Bohmke, Falmouth District Supervisor, Stafford County, Virginia. “We wish them continued success and look forward to excellent, refreshing and convenient services.”
About the June 8th Grand Opening Ceremony
Friends and neighbors were invited to count down the exciting moment when the doors opened for the very first time at 8:00 a.m. Customers were then invited inside to get a free any size hot cup of coffee and participate in a community toast and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:00 a.m. with Wawa’s mascot Wally Goose, oversized scissors, red ribbon, confetti and fanfare.
To celebrate 25 years of serving the Commonwealth, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation will contribute grants and local contributions totaling $100,000 to the Virginia community. First, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation will present $25,000 to three National Partners including: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Federation of Virginia Food Bank and Special Olympics Virginia. In addition, Wawa will announce the Virginia Local Hero Award which offers non-profits and individuals the opportunity to nominate a volunteer who has made a significant impact in its community. Nominations will be accepted from June 8 through June 30 with 25 volunteers to be selected and celebrated with a $1,000 each to their non-profit. To nominate, visit: www.wawa.com/virginia25.
Wawa also recognized local first responders with its signature Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition. Local first responders from Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, Stafford County Fire Rescue and Marin Hoagie Builders competed to see who could build the most hoagies in three-minutes. Wawa concluded the Hoagies for Heroes competitions by presenting checks for $1,000 to each department’s charity of choice.
About the Fredericksburg Store
Erica Sullivan will serve as general manager of the new Fredericksburg Wawa store, leading a team of approximately 50 associates, all of which are new positions brought to the area through the development of the store. Associates in these full- and part-time positions will receive competitive salaries health benefits, when eligible, and participate in Wawa’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Wawa Associates own 39% of Wawa through the ESOP. More information and current job opportunities can be viewed at: www.wawa.com/careers
The store is fully equipped with a built-to-order, fresh food kitchen featuring its signature hoagies (80 million hoagies sold annually) and newest food innovations such as the ever-popular burger: award-winning Wawa coffee (195 million cups sold annually); the Sizzli, Wawa’s hot breakfast sandwich; Wawa’s new line of specialty beverages (hot, cold, iced and frozen); the Wawa Bakery; and Wawa’s beverage line of dairy products, juices and teas, plus packaged goods and fuel services, among other amenities. In addition to the store-level experience, customers can access their Wawa favorites through mobile ordering, curbside pickup, delivery options and its newest Catering Online offer where customers can order favorite Wawa foods for their upcoming events at: www.wawacatering.com.
About Wawa, Inc.
Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #24 of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2021 and #12 on Forbes 100 Halo List in 2022. For more information, visit us on www.wawa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat at @wawa.
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