JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Up north they are beloved, even iconic. Now the Wawa phenomenon is invading northeast Florida. Wawa is coming to town, or to be more specific, the Town Center on the Southside and to Orange Park.
Groundbreaking takes place Thursday to mark the start of construction on the first locations in the area.
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The first in Jacksonville will be built at Town Center Pkwy. and Gate Pkwy. The second Wawa is being built in Clay County at Blanding Blvd. and Filmore St.
The convenience store chain, which originated in the Philadelphia-area, first launched in Florida with a store in Orlando in 2012. Now the chain has more than 115 stores in the Sunshine State with a promise of more to come here in the Jacksonville area. There are reportedly plans to build six stores here in 2017; 10 in 2018 and 2 to 4 more a year in 2019.
Wawa’s presence here created 4,000 jobs so far.