Wawa is gearing up for a huge celebration in Ocala.
That’s the because the popular food market is planning to open three new stores in Ocala – all on the same day. The grand openings will take place on Thursday, April 25. The schedule for the events is:
- 9 a.m. at 3601 E Silver Springs Blvd.;
- 1 p.m. at 1001 S Pine Ave., Ocala; and
- 3 p.m. at 3312 W Silver Springs Blvd.
All three events will include a ribbon-cutting and a Hoagies for Heroes hoagie-building competition benefiting local charities that have been identified by fire, police and first responders. Doors open at all three locations at 8 a.m.
On Wednesday, April 24, Wawa is hosting a special preview Taste of Wawa event for officials and 100 of the food market’s most “excited and devoted” patrons, known as homecoming customers. The general managers and chefs from all three of the new stores will be at the event. Guests will sample and preview some of Wawa’s food and products. And a selfie station will be set up for photos with Wawa’s mascot, Wally Goose.
The event also will include partnership announcements and check presentations to the USO ($2,500), Ocala-Marion Veterans’ Services in support of the Veteran’s Memorial Park ($2,500); and Veteran’s Helping Veterans of Ocala ($5,000).
Wawa made a big splash in Ocala and Marion County last September when the company held three ground-breaking events on the same day. More than 150 people, including city and county leaders, attended the first event at 3601 E. Silver Springs Blvd. And the those in attendance erupted in applause when they were told that at least three more stores are planned in Marion County – two in Ocala and one in Belleview.
Meanwhile, two other stores are moving forward in areas near The Villages. One is located in Lady Lake on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 near Lemon Street and required demolition of “The Castle,” the distinctive-looking Medieval structure that housed Affordable Lock & Security Systems. The other is near the Lowe’s Home Improvement store on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Sumter County. And work is progressing on another new location in Leesburg at the corner of U.S. Hwy. 441 and Griffin Road.
Wawa’s first Villages-area store opened in November 2017 at the corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 466 and has been quite busy ever since, no doubt helping to convince Wawa officials of the need for more locations near Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.