Southside residents might not need to look far to fill up at a Wawa, although it likely won’t be until next year that the popular convenience store and gas station chain opens in Jacksonville.
Wawa Inc. sites for its entry into Northeast Florida are starting to surface, with one of the first at Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway at the entrance of the EastPark industrial and commercial center.
If the deal to develop there is completed, the site would be one of at least five or six of the Pennsylvania-based chain’s initial area entry and the start of up to 20-25 over time.
Regional Real Estate Manager Brian Duke did not return a call Friday, but said in January that Wawa was “all in” for Northeast Florida.
As the agent, EnVision Design Engineering filed a preliminary site plan with the city for a 6,119-square-foot store on 2.7 vacant acres at southeast Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway.
It is designed with 16 fueling positions and 68 parking spaces. The property is owned by Number One Vending Service Inc.
Also, City Council is reviewing a request by the landowner to rezone the property from Industrial Business Park to a Planned Unit Development district. Ordinance 2016-297 is in the Land Use and Zoning Committee.
Duke previously said Wawa had one site in Duval County under contract and several more in review in Duval and Clay counties. He said the company also was working on St. Johns County locations.
Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce confirmed the filing but said she had no other details available.
The company entered Florida in July 2012 with its first store in Central Florida.
It has been adding stores statewide, now with at least 90, and says on its website it intends to open 20 more by early 2017.
Duke previously said construction takes up to 10 months after land is secured and permits are issued, indicating a mid-2017 opening in Jacksonville.
Wawa’s preferred locations are 2-acre corner sites at intersections with traffic lights and high traffic counts. Stores operate 24 hours a day. Each store hires 40-50 full- and part-time employees.
Not counting the cost of real estate, Wawa estimates a minimum $5 million capital investment in each store.
A description with the council ordinance lists Grunthal & Schueth Properties Inc. of Jacksonville as the project developer.
The EastPark Wawa site plan shows a full-access driveway from Central Parkway into the site, with a new median opening with a left-turn lane, along with a right-out driveway from the site onto Central Parkway.
The plan also shows a right-in driveway from Beach Boulevard to the station as well as a cross-access east of the site that connects to a full-access point at Beach Boulevard.
The description filed with council says the final location of all access points is subject to the review and approval of the city’s traffic engineer.
A “for sale” sign on the property lists Allay Realty LLC as the contact. The LLC’s manager, Susan Burban, is a former owner of the property, according to property records.
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