Wawa Closes Stores as Part of Strategic Realignment

Wawa, the convenience store chain, has recently closed a number of its older and smaller footprint locations across New Jersey. Retail experts characterize these closures as a predictable element within the convenience store industry.

One notable closure is a smaller Wawa in Millville that did not offer gasoline. Experts like Todd Drowlette, who has 25 years of experience advising retailers on expansion, note that small units without gas pumps can present challenges. When chains analyze sales figures, these smaller, non-fuel stores can pull down overall averages.

In South Jersey, specifically Winslow Township, Wawa closed a store at the corner of White Horse Pike and Pump Branch Road. This closure is to make way for a new, larger location less than a mile away, which will include gasoline services and a more contemporary design. The grand opening for the new store, originally slated for September, has been delayed without a new date announced.

Forrest Morgeson, an associate professor of marketing at Michigan State University, suggests these closures do not indicate systemic problems for the brand. "This appears more consistent with location-specific operational challenges than a systemic customer experience issue," Morgeson stated. He believes the closures are driven by local conditions rather than brand-level customer sentiment.

Shai Wolkowicki, principal at The W Companies and a retail investor, supports the view that these are strategic retirements. "Wawa is retiring formats that are out of date, not pulling back," Wolkowicki said. He added that Wawa is known for its disciplined real estate strategy and active fleet management, opting to relocate or close underperforming sites rather than attempting to fix them.