Wawa Enthusiasts Attend Every Grand Opening

Plant City, Florida, couple originally from Pennsylvania fanatically supports their hometown convenience store.

December 17, 2015

TAMPA – A Pennsylvania couple who retired to Plant City, Florida, continue to support their favorite convenience store chain.

"We used to go [to Wawa] on elementary school field trips to see how they milk the cows and operate the farm," John Kelley told the Tampa Bay Tribune. In fact, Kelley remembers when Wawa was a dairy farm near his Pennsylvania home in Delaware County.

John and Norma Kelley, both 74, retired to Florida and understandably were excited when Wawa began opening stores in the Sunshine State, and they try to attend the grand opening of every Wawa in the area. "We've collected several Wawa T-shirts just by stopping in at the new stores during their grand openings," he said. 

Like the Kelleys, native Pennsylvanians make up 4% of Florida’s population, notes the news source; folks who represent nearly 800,000 residents. "Florida has been begging for Wawa," Kelley said.

Wawa spokesperson Lori Bruce told the news source that some loyalists show their support for the c-store chain in more permanent ways. "I know many people who have gotten Wawa tattoos and have even had their weddings in Wawa stores," she said.

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