Is that a Wawa rising on the east side of Hollywood? An opening date was just announced
At first it was a rumor. Then it was confirmed. Now, it’s pretty obvious.
Hollywood’s first Wawa is on the way.
The gas pumps are in and the food buildings and signs are up, although there’s still some more construction and landscaping to be done.
But we have an opening date: The company says the new Wawa at 1851 N. Federal Hwy. on U.S. 1, next to South Broward High School, is scheduled to open June 1.
For Hollywood customers looking for a hoagie and gas, that’s good news. The closest Wawa locations are in Davie and Fort Lauderdale.
Wawa locations typically track west of Interstate 95, so the Hollywood location on U.S. 1, between Hollywood Boulevard and Sheridan Street, is an outlier.
Cheaper gas
Gas tends to be more expensive on this stretch, so Wawa’s presence could bring down prices in the area. That’s what happened when a Wawa opened near the Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel on State Road 7 a couple of years ago, across the street from a station that had the highest prices in the Davie neighborhood.
The Hollywood Wawa replaces a strip center that had a Subway, Little Caesars pizza joint and a dollar store.
What’s inside a Wawa?
Wawa stores look like other gas station convenience stores, including prepared salads and wrap, but with a few exceptions:
▪ More coffee: Lots of self-serve choices, including hazlenut and Cuban roast, line the counter. At the self-serve coffee prep station, customers can splash in regular milk, almond milk or flavored creamers. And most Wawa locations have a barista making fancy-schmancy coffee drinks.
▪ Electronic ordering: Several self-serve electronic kiosks allow customers to order breakfast bowls and sandwiches, cold or hot hoagies, several soups of the day, sides including mashed potatoes and rice and beans. The inner menu includes crispy chicken sandwiches and fries.
▪ Food counter: A crew behind an open counter prepares sandwiches and sides to order, where customers pick up their food once they pay at the cashier near the doors.
Other new Wawa locations
Including the one in Hollywood, Wawa is in the process of opening 12 new stores across South Florida:
Miami-Dade County
▪ 11200 SW. 248th St., Homestead (spring 2023)
▪ 2901 W. 16th Ave., Hialeah (spring 2023)
▪ Intersection of Northwest 116th Way and Northwest S. River Drive, Hialeah (spring 2023)
Broward County
▪ 1851 N. Federal Hwy., Hollywood (spring 2023)
▪ 1675 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park (spring 2023)
Palm Beach County
▪ 4530 Lantana Rd., Lake Worth (winter 2023)
▪ 2307 45th St., West Palm Beach (winter 2023)
▪ 8115 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach (winter 2023)
▪ 2505 W. Wooldbright Rd., Boynton Beach (winter 2023)
▪ 9910 S. Jog Rd., Boynton Beach (spring 2023)
▪ 1201 W. Lantana Rd., Lantana (spring 2023)
▪ 15475 Southern Blvd., Loxahatchee (spring 2023)
