Hey Wawa, we’ll take Center City stores over fireworks, please

By now, you’ve seen the commercials and swirling, groovy banners for Wawa Hoagiefest. You might’ve even eaten one of the beloved local brand’s sandwiches at a discount as part of this year’s 15th anniversary of “Hoagie Love” — at least that’s what the convenience chain calls it. Or maybe you’re participating in any one of over 40 Wawa Welcome America community events celebrating America’s independence.

That’s all well and good — if you don’t mind fraternizing with a company that sees you as the enemy.

If you’re confused, that’s OK. I, too, was disconcerted when I came to the realization that Wawa is no good anymore.

Really, folks, if we have any respect for ourselves, we’ll stop this charade and simply speak the truth: It’s time that we as a city broke up with the idea that we are into Wawa because Wawa is definitely not into us. Not when it counts, at least.

» READ MORE: Wawa may exclude Philly from future expansion due to crime concerns, city councilmember says

Its food has been terrible for several years now. The advent of “dinnertime” has been nothing short of vile. And have you tried the quesadillas? (Don’t.)

Bad food is one thing. Bad manners exhibited by a company that scapegoats the community we live, work, and play in is another matter altogether. This, unlike the terrible food, is personal.

You might remember this dastardly move as Wawa announced the closure of some Center City locations, citing public safety concerns. Just recently, it announced the impending July 16 closure of the landmark Second and South Streets location, too, following neighborhood complaints of public disorder and crime.

After news of the first two closures, The Inquirer’s own Editorial Board somberly wept that the action was a “dire statement about public safety in Philadelphia.”

To me, it was more a dire statement about the ethics of the privately held corporation’s executive leadership.

Because while crime was indeed on the upswing nationwide — including in cities and states Wawa was happy to expand into — we all see the company expand into suburban-style gas station super Wawas. Clearly, that is the direction Wawa wants to go in.

I don’t blame it. Cars need gas, at least for now, so it’s compulsory to have to pull over and pay Wawa dollars.

In 2019, Wawa cheerily announced it was expanding into Baltimore, despite Baltimore’s murder rate of 58 homicides per 100,000 residents. Philly’s rate was a comparatively less horrific 22 that year. Likewise, Wawa has moved aggressively into locations in Florida — such as Jacksonville, where the homicide rate is only slightly better than Philly’s. Other Florida cities like Miami Gardens — also home to multiple Wawas — have homicide rates that are nearly identical to Philly’s.

The company earns about $10 billion per year, which is not far from that of the behemoth 7-Eleven — a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that 7-Eleven has more than 10 times the number of U.S. stores as Wawa, according to an analysis done by Billy Penn.

With all that money coming in, you’re telling me the company had no more resources to devote to safety in Philly? Was it even efficiently protecting Philly stores?

Was it even efficiently protecting Philly stores?

Some attribute Wawa’s public safety woes in Center City to the policies of District Attorney Larry Krasner. He isn’t prosecuting as many low-level crimes like shoplifting, the argument goes, so we’re going to hell in a handbasket.

Bizarrely, this argument, used frequently by pro-police folks, does police no favors. In this scenario, it’s implied that cops are putting their thumbs on Lady Justice’s scales through inaction, not arresting shoplifters because they assume Krasner’s office won’t prosecute. Their inaction, then, ensures a chaotic result that a cynic would say benefits police politically.

For his part, Krasner deflected any suggestion that his approach to prosecutions was problematic. He said that retailers and police are not doing their jobs.

It’s clear to me somebody’s not doing their job. And with Wawa’s revenue and only a handful of Center City locations left, you’d think somebody would be protecting the stores where shoplifting is a genuine concern. There are other retailers in Center City, folks. This isn’t the riddle of the Sphinx.

7-Eleven might not have the panache of Wally the Wawa Goose, but it does have something Wally doesn’t: stores that are reliably open 24 hours per day in Center City.

And last I checked, 7-Eleven wasn’t trying to sweep its bad decisions under the rug, or scapegoat our youth and people while illogically also expanding into states and cities that have violent crime rates at or exceeding Philadelphia’s.

Somehow, 7-Eleven is able to make it work in Philly with what I anecdotally see as even fewer staff members or resources. The inscrutable formula for convenience store success is not so hard to read for some, it’s just impossible for Wawa.

The way Wawa has treated us is hardly worth a parade or fireworks or title sponsor recognition.

Happy Fourth of July, Wally. Maybe next year you can migrate somewhere else, though.

Josh Kruger is an award-winning (and losing) writer in Philadelphia. He lives in Point Breeze with his cat, a one-toothed senior named Mason.