New Old City Wawa largest ever for chain

The convenience store chain known for "super" Wawa's in the suburbs opens its largest store steps away from the Liberty Bell.

Tom MacDonald

December 14, 2018

Ribbon cutting for new Center City Wawa (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
New Wawa in Center City will feature homestyle baked goods. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
The new Wawa at 6th and Chestnut streets (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
The interior of the Wawa store features murals of historic Philadelphia. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
The food offerings are expanded at the new Wawa. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
Colonial fife and drum lead parade to Wawa opening near Independence Hall. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
Wawa mascot among those at store opening with "Shorty" the hoagie adding to the festivities (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
A vintage Wawa truck added to the parade (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)
More food mascots from the parade (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

The newest and largest Wawa ever has opened in Philadelphia steps from Independence Hall.

The convenience store is in the Public Ledger Building and runs about a half block beginning at 6th and Chestnut Street, just across the street from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. At more than 11,000 square feet, it’s even bigger than one that opened to much fanfare in Washington, D.C.

“I think what you see today is a test around pushing our design thinking and our food offer thinking many new offers here,” said Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens. “We will continue to test new offers in this store really before any other.”

Scotia Rambo arrived at 4:30 a.m. with her sister to be among the first in line and says the store is fantastic.

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“One, it’s huge, the architecture is beautiful, and the bathrooms are really modern, which sounds weird, but bathrooms are important and it has lots of different kinds of coffees and things you can’t get anywhere else,” she said.

Among the bonuses not found in your typical Wawa are seating and a bakery with many special offerings. Unlike those growing in suburban locations, this one has neither parking nor gasoline pumps.

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