Today, October 31, Wawa celebrated the grand opening of its brand-new store in Tavares, marking a milestone in the company’s history during its 60th anniversary. The celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special giveaways, as customers and Wawa fans gathered early to join in the festivities.

The grand opening event kicked off at 7:45 a.m. when General Manager Alba Lopez led the countdown to officially open the store’s doors at 8:00 a.m. The first 100 customers received exclusive 60th anniversary T-shirts, and all guests were treated to free any-size hot coffee all day in honor of the occasion. In keeping with Wawa tradition, Wawa’s beloved mascot, Wally Goose, joined the festivities, along with red ribbon, oversized scissors, confetti, and plenty of fanfare.

The new store, located along US Highway 441 in Tavares, offers a range of Wawa’s signature fresh food options, fuel services, surcharge-free ATMs, and free air pumps. It also brings 35 new jobs to the community, highlighting Wawa’s commitment to investing in the over 1,000 communities it serves.

Wawa’s CEO, Chris Gheysens, shared his excitement about this new location and Wawa’s continued expansion: “Since our first store opened its doors 60 years ago, it’s been an honor serving our communities with trusted quality products and, most importantly, offering comfort and camaraderie to local friends and neighbors. We pride ourselves on brightening days, and as we continue to grow, we promise to continue fulfilling lives at every new store and look forward to serving the community for many more years to come!”

The new Tavares location is part of Wawa’s ambitious 2024 expansion plan, which includes over 70 new stores across existing markets and the first Wawa stores in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Known for its dedication to community support, Wawa stores frequently participate in local charitable initiatives and host in-store fundraising campaigns that benefit both national and local nonprofit organizations.

As part of its opening-day celebrations, Wawa will honor local heroes with its signature Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition, a tradition where local police and fire departments face off in a fun, three-minute contest to make as many hoagies as possible. The winning team will take home a trophy, and Wawa will make a $1,000 donation to each department’s charity of choice in recognition of their service to the community.

Wawa invites all community members to join in the 60th anniversary celebration at the new Tavares store. Stop by for free hot coffee, grab a Wawa hoagie, and experience the camaraderie that Wawa brings to each of its communities.

📷Shared from Michael Baez, Jeanne Thorne, Jeremy Grogan