Wawa opens first store in Ohio this week. Take a look inside
The doors to the first Wawa in Ohio are set to open, marking the chain's expansion into the Midwest.
The popular convenience store chain officially opens on Wednesday in Liberty Township.
Ahead of the big day, the store hosted a "Taste of Wawa," where VIP customers, local officials and community partners got a taste of what to expect.
The location was packed with enthusiastic customers counting down to this moment.
Michele Venturi and her grandson Henry were the first two inside the store.
"I love it. I'm so excited," Venturi said. "I'm from the East Coast and I go back every year to visit my family. My first stop is always Wawa."
Liberty Township is the first of nine locations set to open in Ohio this year. The other stores are opening in Colerain, Deerfield Township, Fairfield, Huber Heights, Lebanon, Mason, Springdale, and Union Township.
According to Joseph Collins, the Wawa Midwest Director of Store Operations, the chain also has plans to expand into Indiana and Kentucky.
"What we're excited about tomorrow is the opportunity to serve the community," Collins said. "What it translates to, though, is that we have been asked so many times over the last several years, 'When am I going to get a Wawa?' what's fulfilling for us is that we finally get to deliver on that request."
Wawa is bringing a slice of home to many Philadelphia transplants living in Ohio, such as David Thompson.
"Everybody in Philadelphia is attracted to this place," Thompson said. "It's always clean. The coffee's good. They have the best hoagies."
On Tuesday, the beloved East Coast chain unveiled its breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and hoagie hype.
People of all ages sampled some food and beverages on the menu.
"We're always humbled by the amount of passion that our customers feel for the brand," "We have people who get married in their local stores and customers who get tattoos. On the other hand, the connections for military service members who get deployed overseas miss Wawa, and we send coffee and snacks to them."
Come this fall, Wawa will add a seasonal fan favorite to the menu.
"The gobbler! Every November, it comes out, and it's Thanksgiving dinner and a hoagie. It's fantastic," Mike Solon said.
Wawa in Liberty Township will open its doors at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.