As we have been reporting, Wawa is continuing to expand its presence all over Northern and Central New Jersey. The Delaware County, Pennsylvania-based chain of convenience stores and gas stations already proposed new locations in communities such as Newark, Dover, East Hanover, Jersey City, and Roselle Park earlier this year, and now, even more could be coming to the Garden State. Morris, Union, Sussex, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties are each slated to gain additional Wawa outposts.
One of the new Wawa locations could come to the site where a supermarket used to operate near the Jefferson Diner in Morris County. A listing from Sabre Real Estate shows that Wawa has leased space for a 5,585 square foot store and gas station in an upcoming development at 757 Route 15 South in the Lake Hopatcong section of Jefferson Township. The site currently contains a parking lot and a large building that was previously occupied by locations of Pathmark, Fresh Emporium, and Fresh Imperium, but the space has been vacant since the latter market closed its doors in May. According to Sabre’s listing, the building is set to be demolished and replaced not only with a Wawa, but also a 4,833 square foot fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru window and a 10,000 square foot store.
14 miles north along Route 15, another location could open, though the proposal to bring one to the intersection known as Ross Corner in Frankford Township, Sussex County has not been met with as much fanfare as other new Wawas usually receive. That is because, as the New Jersey Herald reported, the new store and gas station would replace The Chatterbox Drive-in, which is one of the most popular restaurants in Sussex County. The owner of the business, Don Hall, is seeking to sell his property to Wawa next year should the new location gain the necessary approvals. The news of the proposal to open the northernmost Wawa in the country in Frankford comes as a QuickChek location is being constructed across the street from the Chatterbox.
Further south, Wawa is planning to construct a location along two busy corridors that straddle the border of Union and Essex Counties. According to a legal notice, the Wawa store and gas station is set to be built on seven lots in Springfield along Morris Avenue and Morris Turnpike, at the corner of Cleveland Place. The property currently contains homes and several businesses including The Paper Pedlar and the Sunlight of the Spirit Yoga Studio. The project was approved last month by the Springfield Planning Board, according to TAPinto Springfield.
In addition, a real estate listing posted earlier this month shows that another Wawa is on the books for Union County. According to RJ Brunelli & Co. Inc., this location could be coming to the corner of Routes 1/9 and Park Avenue in Linden, where an Exxon location currently stands. RJ Brunelli & Co. is currently marketing that another business will be able to occupy 7,200 square feet next to the store and gas station.
Plus, approximately 15 miles away, residents of Edison Township in Middlesex County could soon have another Wawa in their community. A legal notice from the Edison Township Planning Board shows that the company is planning to open just a few blocks from Rutgers University’s Livingston Campus at the corner of Brunswick and Plainfield Avenues. Currently, the property is a large vacant lot owned by Blueberry Village, Inc.
Finally, the Monmouth County borough of Red Bank is also set to receive its second Wawa. According to a public notice from the Red Bank Zoning Board of Adjustment, A & B Property Holdings, LLC has applied for Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval in order to build a 5,585 square foot store with a 12-pump gas station at 2 and 6 Newman Springs Road, at the corner of Route 35. Although the site currently contains the Auto Exotica used car dealership and parking lot, it might not be long before New Jerseyans driving through this part of town will be able to get their Wawa fix.
