In a lot of places, they might visit their local convenience store.
Hit the 7-Eleven.
Slurp a slurpee.
In the Philly area, we don't do that.
We make "Wawa runs."
We've been doing it for 50 years.
In fact, it was 50 years ago today, that the store with the funny name first opened the doors to their original store on MacDade Boulevard in the Folsom section of Ridley Township.
And today they're throwing a party to celebrate. And that includes free coffee at all Wawa locations.
The party will kick off at 6 a.m. at what is referred to as Wawa Store No. 1.
Visitors will step back in time - a half a century in fact - to get the feel and experience of what it was like on April 16, 1964. There will be 50th anniversary decorations, photos and the original signage for the store. Officials also will unveil the original pole sign. Store workers will be dressed in vintage store uniforms.
Former Wawa President and CEO Howard Stoeckel will pour the ceremonial first cup of coffee to kick off the day.
Wawa Chairman Dick Wood will re-enact the first-ever store transaction and unveil a special plaque dedicated to Wawa founder Grahame Wood.
Customers also will have a chance to check out a Wawa parade through the ages retrospective, showcasing visual milestones of the past 50 years.
Stoeckel also will autograph copies of his book, "The Wawa Way." In it he talks about how the business came to acquire its funny name and he lays out the six core principles that have led to its success.
The event will conclude with a special ribon-cutting to commemorate Wawa's half-century in business.
And of course all day customers will be rewarded with free coffee at all Wawa stores.
Later this morning, a similar celebration will be held in Philly at the 17th and Arch location from 8-8:30 a.m.
"Wawa Day" will conclude with a special reception at the Convention Center and announcement of The Wawa Foundation, a new entity founded by Wawa to support the company charitable giving and philanthropic activities.
All of this to celebrate a story with a funny name. Yes, Wawa is the American Indian name for the Canadian goose native to this area.
That single store on MacDade Boulevard has grown into a convenience store behemoth with more than 640 stores that stretch beyond the Philadelphia region down into Maryland, Virginia and now even Florida. The company has more than 22,000 employees.
Today's "super" Wawas feature gas pumps and a dazzling array of food inside.
But it's still the people - and their interaction with loyal customers - that remains at the heart of the "Wawa Way."
It also helps when you have your own personal Wawa. At the Daily Times, we've been lucky to have one of those quaint old stores withing walkin distance just a block away.
That's why today, as we've been doing for 50 years, most of the region will be making a "Wawa run."
Happy 50th, Wawa.
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