Wawa Opens Second Tallahassee Store Amid Community Excitement

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, opened its second location in Tallahassee on Friday, drawing a crowd of eager customers who lined up hours before the doors opened. The new store, located at 1755 North Blair Stone Road, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, free giveaways, and a festive atmosphere.

The event began at 7:45 a.m., with doors opening at 8 a.m. and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The first 100 customers received free T-shirts, while others enjoyed complimentary hot coffee of any size and participated in a hoagie-building competition benefiting local charities. The store, featuring 16 fuel pumps, is part of Wawa’s expansion plan to open 20 stores in the Florida Panhandle, including four to six in Tallahassee over the next five to eight years.

Nancy and John Opper arrived at 6:30 a.m., an hour and a half before the store opened. Nancy Opper, a longtime Wawa enthusiast, brought handmade beaded bracelets for employees as a token of appreciation. “It’s so sweet,” said Patricia Garcia, a general manager-in-training, who received one of the bracelets. Jen Wolf, a Wawa spokesperson, praised the community’s enthusiasm, calling it a testament to the brand’s unique appeal.

Customers like Nancy Wenhold, 80, were drawn to the store for its lively atmosphere and freebies. “I’m 80 years old and I’ve still got a little oomph in me,” Wenhold joked, adding that she was enjoying every moment of the celebration. Families, including Gakiera Ash and her three children, also joined the festivities. Ash, who lives nearby, said her family watched the store being built and made it a goal to be among the first shoppers.

Wawa’s first Tallahassee store opened in November 2024 at 1465 Capital Circle Northwest, drawing similar crowds. Nancy Dulaney, Wawa’s director of store operations, said the community response to the inaugural store was “unbelievable.” She added that the second store’s opening was highly anticipated, with the company focusing on creating a strong connection with the local community.

The new location employs 45 people, including General Manager Devin Bloodsworth, who has been with Wawa for 15 years. Bloodsworth described the store’s opening as a “great new experience” and expressed excitement about helping employees grow their careers with the company. Wawa plans to open 90 new stores nationwide in 2025, continuing its record growth.

In addition to free coffee through Feb. 9, Wawa is offering a 1-2-3 deal as part of its rewards program, featuring $1 hot coffee, $2 iced coffee, and $3 Monster Energy Drinks through Feb. 16. The company’s expansion reflects a broader trend of convenience store growth in Tallahassee, where residents have embraced the new options.