‘Gas wars.’ 5 things we know about Centre County’s first Wawa location and what’s next
In the matter of a couple of years, the Benner Pike will have gone from one gas station to four, as Wawa is set to join Sheetz, Rutter’s and the Giant gas pumps in a small stretch of the highway.
Wawa submitted its land development plan proposal for the gas station and convenience store chain’s first location in Happy Valley back in March. At the time, Benner Township Supervisors reviewed the plan, and approved and signed a memorandum of understanding, a standard agreement between the developer, county and township stating the developer agrees to reimburse the township for any costs related to reviewing their proposal. That mostly pertained to engineering for stormwater and traffic.
Last week, the Centre County Commissioners had their first look at the plans, as they were formally submitted to the county more recently. The board also approved the MOU on Tuesday as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.
Below are five things we know about Wawa’s first location in the area.
Where is it going?
Centre County’s first Wawa is planned for the corner of Benner Pike and Eagle Point in Benner Township, between Dunkin’ and Fulton Bank, and across from Sheetz.
During a July 18 Centre County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Mark Higgins talked about the growth of the area in recent years.
“We’ve got some gas wars going on in greater Bellefonte,” Higgins said, noting that the area will have grown from one gas station to four.
The area has had a lot of “motion” lately, he said, as several developments are in the works. Most recently, Tru by Hilton announced it will have a location along the I-99 and Benner Pike interchange, and a new McDonald’s is proposed for the intersection of Paradise Road and the Benner Pike. Other developments and plans in the township include the new Giant with gas pumps, a large residential development at the end of High Tech Road, a massive fulfillment center warehouse at the end of Penntech Drive and a four-story hotel at the corner of Benner Pike and Amberleigh Lane.
Motorists will be able to access Wawa from Eagle Point, where an intersection will be created and can exit onto Eagle Point or make a right turn onto Benner Pike. There will also be access to the adjacent Dunkin’, which also directs traffic to turn right on Benner Pike.
How big will it be?
The submitted plans show the building will be 6,606 square feet and will have 16 fueling stations within eight pumps.
When will it open?
A Wawa spokesperson previously told the Centre Daily Times that the company is expanding into central Pennsylvania, including the State College area, and are “actively looking for sites for potential openings in 2025.”
No timetable was submitted with the plans, but Chris Schnure, the county’s subdivision and land development planner, said, “as with any developer, the sooner, the better.”
What does Wawa offer?
Sheetz vs. Wawa is often a big debate among Pennsylvanians, but the two share many similarities. Wawa places a focus on coffee and hoagies to pair with a more limited menu, but both establishments offer made-to-order sandwiches on top of other convenience store goods, like snack foods and fountain drinks.
Wawa offers fresh cold and hot coffee in staple flavors like Colombian and Cuban roasts with seasonal varieties added throughout the year. Macchiatos, lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, and several teas and iced coffee, including cold brews and lattes, are available, too.
As far as hoagies go, Wawa offers them in three different sizes — Junior (4 inches), Shorti (6 inches) and Classic (10 inches) — and customers can customize their selection while ordering online or at an in-store kiosk. Hoagies are available hot or cold.
A popular breakfast option at Wawa is Sizzlis, a breakfast sandwich. They’re generally available with scrambled eggs, cheese and a choice of bacon or sausage on a bagel, a croissant, a biscuit or even a waffle.
What’s next?
The plans were just formally submitted to the county a couple of weeks ago and still need to go through the Centre County Planning Commission.
The next Centre County Planning Commission is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15 in room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte. The agenda isn’t currently available, so it’s unclear if the Wawa plans will be discussed at this meeting or a future one.
Benner Township has many regulations that are administered by the township, such as zoning, stormwater management and street standards. The developer is working with the township’s zoning officer, engineer and traffic engineer to meet those regulations, Schnure said.
