In the News | Wawa Plans North Jacksonville Location Near Amazon Fulfillment Center
Article by: Karen Brune Mathis | Jax Daily Record | To view the full article, click HERE.
Wawa Inc. is working toward two more new locations, including its first in North Jacksonville.
JEA is reviewing a service availability request for Wawa to build a 6,000-square-foot convenience store and gas station at Duval and Pecan Park roads in North Jacksonville.
The site is 4.86 acres owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority at the Pecan Park Road entrance to the Amazon.com fulfillment center.
England, Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer.
The utility also is reviewing a request for Wawa to build a 5,537-square-foot convenience store and gas station on an outparcel at Beachwalk in St. Johns County.
Beachwalk is along County Road 210 between Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 in North St. Johns County.
EnVision Design + Engineering is the civil engineer.
Those follow JEA service availability letters Nov. 22 for Wawa to build gas stations and convenience stores in Wildlight in Nassau County and in two locations in St. Johns County, including a larger one in Beachwalk that appears to have reduced its size.
In Duval County, the city issued a permit Nov. 23 for construction of a Wawa along Baymeadows Road.
Pennsylvania-based Wawa Inc. opened its first stores in Northeast Florida in December 2017, starting its path toward opening up to 40 locations in the area.
It has opened at least 15 stores and several more are under construction or in review in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
At the April 2017 groundbreaking for the store along Gate Parkway at The Crossing at Town Center, Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens said the company invests $6 million into each store, translating into a $240 million investment in Northeast Florida.
Wawa confirmed its interest in Northeast Florida in January 2016 as it was expanding in Florida.
In a June 2016 presentation in Clay County, Wawa said it intended to roll into North Florida in a big way, with at least 30 locations eventually.
John Poplawski, vice president of real estate, said Northeast Florida is at least a 30-store market, and it could expand to 40 or more, depending on customer support.
