The Best Thing That Happened This Week: The New Wawa Opened

Workers perform the finishing touches on the new Wawa at 20th and Market streets. It opens tomorrow | Photo: Dan McQuade

It was way back in 2008 that the Wawa at 20th and Chestnut closed down, leaving hundreds of thousands of Center City-ites deprived of what actress Ellie Kemper, in an “Ode to Wawa” she once wrote for Princeton Alumni Weekly, called “one of the most enduring relationships of my life.” Sans Shortis, sans Hot-To-Go® Bowls, sans touchscreens, denizens were forced to actually speak to other human beings as they sadly ordered bibimbap and croque monsieurs and pad Thai from other eateries. That glistening new Wawas opened in 2012 at 17th and Arch and 2015 at Broad and Walnut only added to the Rittenhouse angst: When will it be our turn? Friday, it was. The biggest-ever urban Wawa opened its doors at 20th and Market, with cheerleaders, seating, charging ports, Mayor Kenney and Wally Goose. Hey, you wanna know something, Our New Wawa? We would have brought free coffee to you.

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