Wawa to Open First Store With Inside Seating

PHILADELPHIA — Wawa Inc. is making another move to up its foodservice game — this time, adding indoor seating to one of its convenience stores.

The retailer plans to open its first store with indoor seating in the Center City section of Philadelphia this year, according to Philly.com. Company executives made the announcement during Wawa's 51st anniversary celebration on Thursday.

Work on the store at South Broad and Walnut streets should begin in May and be finished in time for a Thanksgiving opening, said Lori Bruce, a Wawa spokeswoman.

Some Wawa locations, including several in Florida, feature outside seating, but now the retailer is making the move inside.

Bruce said besides indoor seating, the "new flagship store ... will feature many new design concepts," the news outlet reported.

Pennsylvania-based Wawa operates more than 680 convenience stores — 400-plus offering gasoline — in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.