Wawa, Inc. press release
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Wawa, Inc. today announced the grand opening of its new store located at 4322 SW Archer Rd. on Thursday, June 30e. To mark the occasion, Wawa is hosting an exciting grand opening celebration and outdoor ribbon cutting beginning at 9:00 a.m. Ahead of the celebration, the new store will open at 8:00 a.m., when Wawa will begin handing out limited edition, Wawa “Goose Vibes Only” for the first 100 customers who walk through the door, while supplies last! Wawa will also provide free coffee for raise a toast to the community and brighten the days from June 30 to July 10.
About Wawa’s 2022 Day Brighteners Tour
Attended by officials, charity partners, customers and associates, Wawa’s grand opening celebration will introduce the community to the store’s new team and celebrate the role they play in making their communities a better place. . Throughout the year, each grand opening celebration will be part of the Highlighter Tour of the Day 2022, an initiative designed to celebrate the customers, associates, local heroes and community organizations that brighten our days. The tour will also mark Wawa’s continued commitment to growth, with plans to open 54 new stores and create more than 2,500 new jobs throughout the year.
During each grand opening, Wawa will hold a special Day Brightener ceremony, which will include:
- Combine day lighteners: Wawa will recognize associates who go above and beyond to create positive customer moments
- Community Day Highlighters: Wawa will celebrate a local person or organization that has a brilliant impact on the community
- Local Heroes Day Highlighters: Wawa will recognize local everyday heroes who illuminate the community by protecting and serving and will host a Hoagies for Heroes recognition and check presentation to each department’s charity
The grand opening of the Gainesville location is 16e will open this year out of the total 54 stores expected to open in Wawa’s operating area in 2022.
“At Wawa, our main goal is to fill lives every day, and since opening our first store, we believe we all have a part to play in making this world a better place,” said Chris Gheysens, President and CEO. from the direction of Wawa. “Our store teams and associates deliver experiences and emotional connections with customers that go beyond what traditionally happens in a retail environment. Simply put, they help make their communities happier and more connected. This year, we’re thrilled to toast all of the amazing Day Brighteners and kick off this one-of-a-kind tour with a stop at each new store to show our “Goose Gratitude” to associates and customers whose small acts of kindness make a big difference in our communities.
About June 30e Grand Opening Ceremony
Friends and neighbors are invited to count down the exciting moment until the doors open for the very first time at 8:00 a.m.followed by an inauguration ceremony at 09:00, featuring Wawa Wally Goose mascot, oversized scissors, red ribbon, confetti and marching band.
Community Day Clearer Call
As part of the Day Brighteners Tour, Wawa will recognize their store team and highlight an associate who has gone above and beyond to make the good times better or the tough times more bearable in the store or community. Additionally, Wawa would like to recognize a community member who has made a positive impact in the community (i.e. someone who volunteers at a local food pantry, provides meals to first responders, organizes a toy drive, etc.) grand opening celebration with a special “daylighter” gift basket. The general public is invited to nominate someone in their community by submitting a heartwarming enlightenment story of the day HERE.
Wawa will also recognize local first responders with its signature Hoagies for heroes hoagie building contest. Local first responders from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Alachua County Fire Department will compete to see who can build the most hoagies in three minutes. Wawa will conclude the Hoagies for Heroes competitions by presenting checks for $1,000 to each department’s charity of choice.
To see photos highlighting the festivities, follow @Wawa on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Gainesville Store
Kristin Frizzle will serve as General Manager of the new Gainesville Wawa store, leading a team of approximately 50 associates, all of whom are new positions brought to the region through the development of the store. Associates in these full-time and part-time positions will not only receive competitive salaries with a starting $15 hourly rate and benefits, but once eligible, they will participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Wow. Wawa Associates owns 40% of Wawa through the ESOP. More information and current job vacancies 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 each year) and the latest food innovations such as the ever-popular customizable burger, the award-winning Wawa Cafe (195 million cups sold annually); Sizzliä, Wawa’s hot breakfast sandwich; Wawa’s new line of specialty beverages (hot, cold, iced and frozen); Wawa Bakery; and Wawa’s line of beverages consisting of dairy products, juices and teas, as well as packaged goods and fuel services, among other conveniences. In addition to the store-level experience, customers can access their Wawa favorites through mobile ordering, curbside pickup, delivery options and its all-new online dining offering, where customers can order favorite Wawa foods for their upcoming events at www.wawacatering.com.
About Wawa’s Main Purpose
Wawa’s main goal is to achieve lives, every day. It captures Wawa’s special place in the world and recognizes Wawa’s higher calling beyond convenience and satisfaction. He inspires Wawa associates to create meaningful personal connections and make a real difference in the lives of customers, communities and others, every day.
