Gas station and convenience store chain Wawa is continuing its planned expansion into Northeast Florida, making plans to build a store at the northeast corner of Beach and Southside boulevards.
Wawa is known for serving hoagies, freshly brewed coffee and soups, sides and snacks. Customers can customize their order at touch-screen kiosks inside the store, then pick up their meal or drink from the counter. Ready-made food is also available in Wawa stores.
Jacksonville City Councilman Scott Wilson told the Jax Daily Record that plans indicate the front part of the Southside Estates shopping center will be taken down to make way for the Wawa, while the back portion may be redeveloped at some point.
Wawa is asking the city for permission to add more parking spots -- from 37 to 52 -- and also eliminate the required five-foot buffer along the easterly property line.
The Record reports that Wawa has applied for permits for stores at the following locations:
- Town Center Parkway in The Crossing, Jacksonville
- Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway, Jacksonville
- 6787 Wilson Boulevard, Jacksonville
In June, Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens told Action News Jax that construction on stores would begin in the spring of 2017 and would open in late 2017.
Other identified Wawa sites include two in Clay County and one in East Arlington. Wawa says it wants to open 30 to 40 stores in Northeast Florida, and the stores are expected to bring 1,000 jobs to the area.