14-02-2025
Curious about all that construction on North Davis Highway? Here's what's coming.
If you've driven past HCA Florida West Hospital in recent months, you've likely noticed an ongoing construction project across the street from the hospital.
That construction site on North Davis Highway will be the future home of a Wawa, the popular gas-and-convenience chain that made its entrance into the Pensacola region at the end of last year.
The project's site plans show that developers intend for this Wawa store, located at 8530 N. Davis Highway, to have approximately 5,915 square feet with 71 parking spaces on a previously-undeveloped parcel that's approximately 3.44 acres. Once construction is done, motorists will be able to access this Wawa using either East Johnson Avenue or North Davis Highway.
Pensacola's first Wawa opened up on Boesch Lane in late December and the chain's already been approved to build more stores across Escambia County.
Wawa filed three projects with Santa Rosa County to develop new store stores last year that are planned for Pace, Milton and Navarre respectively.
8530 N. Davis Highway - Pensacola
6658 Pensacola Boulevard - Pensacola
5888 W. Nine Mile Road - Pensacola
9262 W. U.S. Highway 98 - Pensacola
7212 U.S. Highway 90 - East Milton
Navarre location proposed next to Sailfish Coastal Bonsai Nursery on Navarre Parkway and Southshore Lane
Pace location proposed on the northwest corner of Berry Hill Road and King George Parkway
The popular convenience store and gas station chain, renowned for its hoagies, customization choices and 24/7 availability, began in 1964 in Pennsylvania and has branched out from the state in a rapid fashion.
Wawa has opened nearly 300 stores in Florida and employs about 10,000 associates across the state.
Wawa's existing Florida stores are mostly in the southwest, across Central Florida and up and down the east coast, but they plan to open up to 20 new stores across the Panhandle over the next three to five years as part of their expansion efforts.
Florida isn't the only Southern state whose markets are being tapped into by Wawa; Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina each have their first Wawa store planned to open soon.
The chain now has almost 1,100 stores operating in the U.S.
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a Wawa offers all the things you'd expect from a convenience store − snacks, lottery tickets, drinks, tobacco, gas (at most locations), etc. − but they also offer a larger variety of fresh food than most fast-food restaurants such as their made-to-order, fan-favorite hoagies and the hot breakfast "Sizzli" sandwiches.
Wawas also are famous for customer service, scrupulously clean bathrooms, decent gas prices, free air for your tires and no-charge ATMs. In 2022 Forbes ranked them #12 in their Halo 100 list of brands that consumers love.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: New Wawa Pensacola store is coming soon to Ferry Pass
