Southside residents might not need to look far to fill up at a Wawa, although it likely won’t be until next year that the popular convenience store and gas station chain opens in Jacksonville.
Wawa Inc. sites for its entry into Northeast Florida are starting to surface, with one of the first at Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway at the entrance of the EastPark industrial and commercial center.
If the deal to develop there is completed, the site would be one of at least five or six of the Pennsylvania-based chain’s initial area entry and the start of up to 20-25 over time.
Regional Real Estate Manager Brian Duke did not return a call Friday, but said in January that Wawa was “all in” for Northeast Florida.
As the agent, EnVision Design + Engineering filed a preliminary site plan with the city for a 6,119-square-foot Wawa on 2.7 vacant acres at southeast Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway.
It is designed with 16 fueling positions and 68 parking spaces. The property is owned by Number One Vending Service Inc.
Duke said in January that Wawa had one site in Duval County under contract and several more in review in Duval and Clay counties. He said the company also was working on St. Johns County locations.
Wawa’s corporate representative did not immediately respond to an email. EnVision did not return a call, either.
The company entered Florida in July 2012 with its first store in Central Florida. It has been adding stores statewide, now with at least 90, and says on its website it intends to open 20 more by early 2017.
Duke said construction takes up to 10 months after land is secured and permits are issued, indicating a mid-2017 opening in Jacksonville.
Wawa’s preferred locations are 2-acre corner sites at intersections with traffic lights and high traffic counts. Stores operate 24 hours a day.
The company leases or buys its property and directs its own construction. Not counting the cost of real estate, Wawa estimates a minimum $5 million capital investment in each store.
Each store hires 40-50 full- and part-time employees.
The EastPark Wawa site plan shows a full-access driveway from Central Parkway into the site, with a new median opening with a left-turn lane, along with a right-out driveway from the site onto Central Parkway.
The plan also shows a right-in driveway from Beach Boulevard to the station as well as a cross-access east of the site that connects to a full-access point at Beach Boulevard.
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