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New Jersey is No Longer the Wawa Capital of the World

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Jun 6th, 2025 · 5:17 PM EDT

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Like every 80 year old snowbird from Philly, Wawa has moved to Florida and adopted it as their new home. According to Katie Kausch at NJ.com, New Jersey and PA no longer have the highest amount of Wawa’s in their state:

There were 304 Wawas in Florida as of May 6, surpassing New Jersey’s 293 locations, according to data aggregator ScrapeHero. More than a quarter of all Wawas are in Florida now. Pennsylvania, where the beloved chain was founded, has 263 locations.

More than a quarter of my friend’s parents are in Florida now too.

It’s crazy how fast Wawa has grown in Florida since sprouting up in 2012. They’re multiplying everywhere building an average of 25 Wawa’s a year. I kind of had an idea they outgrew the Mid-Atlantic area when Mr. Beast and Logan Paul started doing ads for them.

If you’ve been following Wawa news, and how couldn’t you, you know that Wawa has it’s own Manifest Destiny but out to the Midwest. They have plans for expansion all the way to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana and you know what? I love it. People love to shit on Wawa’s quality recently, but I still think it gets the job done. In terms of gas station food it’s head and shoulders above Royal Farms, 7/11, Sunoco and everything else. Everyone should get to take part in the splendors of Hoagiefest at least one. Sidenote: I’ve never been to a Buccees, but that sounds more like a borderline convenience store Walmart. I think Wawa even knows they’d be fighting above their weight class in that one. If it was up to me I’d want a Wawa up and down the eastern seaboard. From Maine to Miami. I want the opportunity to go to a Wawa whether I’m going to the Outer Banks, Portland, Myrtle Beach, Boston, or Miami. The more Wawa’s the better I say. Everyone that visits the Delaware Valley raves about Wawa. Everyone that moves to the west misses it. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone and not enough people appreciate the goose for what it is. I know it’s not the Wawa you grew up on where you used to fill out your order on a slip and there was a gigantic pickle bucket, but hey if you don’t adapt you die.

Did you know Wawa also changed it’s gas station payment policy in New Jersey? I had no idea. No more asking “fill it, regular” if you’re paying cash. Not that it’s that huge of a deal for many folks like me that charge it to the game, but your dad or grandfather who love paying in cash probably want to drive their car through the deli. Here’s more on that via Kausch at NJ.com:

As of June 2, Wawa is now requiring payment up front for all gas transactions, a spokeswoman confirmed.

The policy applies to all transactions, including cash, credit, debit and gift cards. But cash customers who are used to paying after filling up will likely feel the change the most.

For cash customers who want to fill their tanks, they’ll now have to specify a dollar amount when paying. If the transaction costs less than what you paid, a gas attendant will refund you in cash.

Now we just have to eliminate the law in Jersey that I can’t pump my own gas. If I have to wait for an attendant to finish up the five other cars in front of me as my pump clicks I’m gonna lose it. That’s precious time wasted just sitting in traffic on the Garden State Parkway.