3:45 p.m. update:
Wawa Inc. intends to roll into North Florida in a big way, starting with up to five gasoline station-convenience stores by the end of 2017 and at least 30 locations eventually.
Maybe more — think 40.
At a cost of at least $5 million in each location, and 40 jobs per store, the Pennsylvania-based company is looking at an investment of $150 million and a job base of 1,200 in Northeast Florida with those first 30.
“If you haven’t been into one, go,” said Clay County Manager Stephanie Kopelousos.
Wawa executives presented its concept — including “What is a Wawa?” — at invitation-only community partnership events Thursday in Clay County and Jacksonville.
“It’s different things to different people,” said Wawa President and CEO Chris Geysens to a group at the Thrasher-Horne Conference Center in Orange Park.
He emphasized the friendliness of its associates, who take part in an employee stock-ownership plan; of the food quality, especially its hoagies and coffee; and of the service, noting that people courteously hold open doors for each other in Wawa stores.
Gheysens said people make connections with and at the stores, leading to wedding photos taken at Wawas where couples might have spent time, and some customers even sport Wawa tattoos.
There’s also friendliness. “We give out a lot of hugs,” he said.
Gheysens said people consider it their town center. “And that is what we hope happens here,” he said.
John Poplawski, senior director of site acquisition and development, and Brian Duke, regional real estate manager, said before the Clay presentation that four area sites have been identified and are in various stages of approvals and permitting.
Three are in Duval — in Fort Caroline at southwest Monument and McCormick roads; in EastPark at Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway; and in The Crossing at Gate and Town Center parkways near St. Johns Town Center.
One is in Clay County at Blanding Boulevard and Filmore Street in Orange Park.
Executives did not identify additional sites, but said six are under contract and another dozen are being reviewed.
Asked when a St. Johns County site might surface, Gheysens said: “I think soon.”
The first groundbreaking is expected in the spring. When the first stores open by late 2017, they might open simultaneously or in the same week.
A second wave of 10 or more openings is forecast for 2018. In 2019 and after, the company expects to open two to four a year.
Wawa Inc., privately held by family members, employees and other investors, operates 731 stores in six states, with 29,408 employees. In addition to Pennsylvania and Florida, it operates in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
Wawa was founded in 1803 and incorporated in 1865. Its first milk plant opened in 1902 and the first Wawa Food Market opened in 1964.
The name Wawa is a native American word for the Canada goose, which is depicted in the corporate logo. The company is headquartered in Wawa, Pa.
It opened its first Florida store in July 2012 near SeaWorld and now has 92 locations in the Orlando, Tampa, Southwest, Daytona and East Coast markets. Its 100th store in the state should open this year.
As of Wednesday, there also were 48 sites in the regulatory pipeline and more than 150 being reviewed in Florida, Poplawski said.
Wawa focuses on new construction, which creates about 140 construction- and site-related jobs for each location. They operate 24/7.
Florida stores are a little different. Along with a design created for the Sunshine State, they also provide outdoor seating because of the climate.
Stores feature touchscreen food-service ordering and Wawa soon will launch an app that allows customers to place orders in advance.
Wawa also focuses on charity, including through its Wawa Foundation. Its goal is to donate $50 million by 2018 to causes involving health, hunger and “everyday heroes.”
Gheysens said during an interview after the Clay presentation that the real estate team researches high-profile corner locations and found “a lot more in Jacksonville and Orlando” than in other areas.
The sites generally are about 2 acres and the stores about more than 6,000 square feet. Wawa seeks sites accessible at traffic signals.
Gheysens said Wawa competes for sites that also would be of interest to Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and banks.
Wawa stores usually operate on ground leases with developers.
Asked Wawa affects competitors, “we tend to make them better,” Gheysens said.
He said other gas station and convenience store companies might remodel, seek better sites and drop gasoline prices in advance or in reaction to Wawa’s market entrance.
Gheysens also said Florida’s permitting process is easier than in other states. “We’re used to more layers,” he said.
Thursday was Gheysens’ first visit to Jacksonville.
He said he visits a Wawa store at least daily 350 days a year. By the end of next year, he can do so in Northeast Florida.
Original story
Today’s the day the region finds out what Wawa Inc. plans for the area.
The Pennsylvania-based gas station-convenience store chain initially intends to open at least a half-dozen stores in Duval and Clay counties and also expand into St. Johns.
Three sites confirmed in public records are at Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway and at Gate and Town Center parkways in Jacksonville, and at Blanding Boulevard and Filmore Street in Clay County.
A company representative said he considered the area a market of up to 25 stores.
Events are scheduled today in Clay and Duval counties for invitation-only crowds at what are called “community partnership events.”
The Clay County event starts at 11 a.m. at the Thrasher-Horne Conference Center in Orange Park and the Duval County session is at 5 p.m. at the Main Library Downtown.
Wawa says the events will provide a glimpse of “The Wawa Way.” Top executives will be on hand.
Exhibits will show details of the store design and touchscreen ordering terminals. Chefs will host a “Hoagies for Heroes” competition.
With more than 725 stores total, the company expects to open its 100th Florida store this year. It opened its first Wawa in the state in July 2012 and now operates in Orlando, Tampa, the Southwest coast, Daytona and along the East Coast.
Jacksonville is the next step.
Meritage buys Emerson site for Wendy’s
Meritage Hospitality Group, through Wen South LLC, bought property at 3100 Emerson St. on Tuesday for development of a Wendy’s “Image Activation” restaurant.
Wen South paid $840,000 for the land, which is at Emerson Street and Philips Highway. It bought the land from DBSB Inc., whose president is J.C. Demetree Jr. of Demetree Brothers Inc.
Site plans were filed in May for a 3,500-square-foot Wendy’s on just under an acre.
Meritage Hospitality Group, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., develops and operates restaurants in eight states, including 168 Wendy’s.
Wendy’s Brand Manager Tyler Boik said Wednesday the Emerson store will be the second “Image Activation” store to be built in the Jacksonville area. The Nocatee location developed last year carries the “ultramodern design,” he said.
Five others in the area have been remodeled for the new look and five more will be renovated this year.
Boik said the remodeling and new projects range from $250,000 to $1.2 million.
Wen South owns 40 Wendy’s in the Jacksonville area and nine in Tallahassee.
Construction will start pending permits and is planned for completion by year-end.
About 6 acres are available for development at the busy Emerson Street and Philips Highway corner in Southside.
Demetree Brothers sold about 2 acres for a Gate store in March 2013.
Capital Plaza changes ownership
Starwood Property Trust Inc. acquired the Capital Plaza office center in Southside on Friday for $24 million from an ownership group in care of LNR Partners LLC of Miami Beach.
It appears to be a sale from one Starwood entity to another. Starwood’s director of investor relations has not responded to two phone calls.
Starwood Property Trust, based in Greenwich, Conn., partnered with Starwood Capital in 2013 to buy LNR Property LLC and its subsidiaries, including LNR Partners LLC.
The special warranty deed made Friday was between MSCI 2006-IQ11 Office 10301 LLC, in care of LNR Partners in Miami Beach, and 10301 Jacksonville Office LLC, in care of Starwood in Connecticut.
State corporate records for the seller show it is part of LNR Property LLC in Miami Beach. State records for the buyer also track back to an address for LNR Property in Miami Beach.
Capital Plaza is marketed as a three-building office park on 42 acres at 10301 and 10401 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Its 2016 assessed value is $28.7 million, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser.
Capital Plaza initially was developed for American Express Travel Related Services, a major corporate newcomer to Jacksonville at the time.
The first two connected four-story buildings, totaling almost 330,000 square feet, were built in 1989-90.
An almost 115,000-square-foot, three-story building was developed in 1999.
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