New Wawa Now Officially Open In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —It was the Wawa that nobody wanted.

But on Thursday morning, when temperatures were hovering under 30 degrees, everyone wanted Wawa.

Rows of residents dressed in winter coats, scarves, and knit caps braved the cold to attend the grand opening of the new Wawa convenience store at the corner of Horsham and York Roads that was the centerpiece of a battle between the borough and the company that landed in court.

"This reminded me of an ice cream called Rocky Road," State Rep. Nancy Guenst said in remarks to the crowd of more than 100 people. "We now welcome you with open arms and hope you play an integral role in business in the borough."

The store has caused controversy for years after the borough lost a court battle to try and prevent it. The Borough Council also recently rejected a proposal by Wawa to sell liquor in the store. The new Wawa will be selling gas.

But that didn't stop the parking lot from being packed where there wasn't a spot to be found or the line that formed around the building of people waiting to get inside the 5,585-square-foot convenience store for some free coffee and maroon T-shirts that were gone from a table in a heartbeat.

Wawa Store General Manager Robert Hatch, with Wawa mascot Wally the Goose by his side, did a countdown from 10 to open the store. After people grabbed coffee and ordered breakfast, the festivities continued as Wawa officials made comments about the opening and shared a few toasts.

Then came the hoagie-making contest, a battle between the Second Alarmers Rescue Squad and the Enterprise Fire Company.

It came down to the wire but the rescue squad won the esteemed Wawa trophy, making 30 hoagies to the fire company's 26 and earning a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choosing.

The ceremony was also attended by borough officials including Councilwomen Nicole Shay, Amanda Jacobus, and Nicole McMenamin, Councilman Alex Myers, Deputy Police Chief Mark Ruegg, and Downtown Development Director Cindy Bollendorf.