Cherry Hill Wawa closing after more than 50 years on Route 70
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) -- It's the end of an era for Wawa coffee and sandwich runs on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
After 51 years, the Wawa location at 1110 Marlton Pike East will close on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The company said the decision to close the store was made after an "extensive evaluation."
"While this was a very difficult decision to make, we have determined that this store cannot deliver the experience customers deserve or continue to meet performance expectations," Wawa said in a statement. "Over the years, our product offerings and services have changed and whenever possible we expand, relocate or modernize our older stores to meet our current offer and standards rather than close them. We have considered options, but have determined it is just not feasible for us to do so here."
The Route 70 Cherry Hill location does not have public restrooms or sell gasoline.
"Very upset, very upset," Toni Giampietro, who has lived across the street for 30 years, said. "There's no other Wawa close enough for me."
Giampietro calls the Wawa across from her house her neighborhood store and her one-stop shop for milk, bread and coffee.
"I'm here twice a day unfortunately, I am here twice a day," she said.
Tyree Mosby has also become a regular and says this location is still his favorite.
"With this building in particular, it's very sentimental because we got close to a lot of co-workers that worked there," Mosby said. "Shoutout to Zack, Zack in the back that makes the sandwiches all around behind the counter, we're going to miss you Zack."
Mosby works down the street and says he also stops at this location at least twice a day.
"We stop by and come down come get something to eat you know coffee regular Wawa stuff, so it's really going to hurt us," Mosby said.
The city says two years ago the legacy store was set to be replaced by a Super Wawa across the street, but the developer backed out after harsh opposition from the community. Now, it's unclear what if anything will go in the small store's place.
"I'm just hoping it's not another bank or another urgent care because that seems to be what's up and down route 70 right now," Giampietro said.
The first Wawa Food Market opened in 1964 in Pennsylvania, and according to the company, saw its first stores open in New Jersey and Delaware by 1969. The Cherry Hill location first opened in 1973, ranking it among the oldest locations in the state.
Wawa said all employees working at the Cherry Hill store have been offered jobs at other locations.
Mostly recently, Wawa opened new stores in Logan Township and Penns Grove.