Wawa Day brings free coffee for customers today to celebrate company's 60th anniversary
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Wawa Day is here! On Tuesday, April 16, the company is marking its 60th anniversary in the convenience retail business by offering customers free coffee and hosting two events in Philadelphia.
On "Wawa Day," as the Pennsylvania-based chain of convenience stores is calling it, customers can get a free hot coffee of any size all day, according to a news release. All stores will feature vintage décor, cups and hoagie paper, and special tumblers will be on sale. Stores will also have special 60-cent promotions, including a birthday cake doughnut and some drinks.
The company expects to give away nearly 1.5 million free cups of coffee.
Special events with free coffee today for Wawa Day 2024
Wawa hosted special events at the Wawa location at 6th and Chestnut streets in Center City and at the National Constitution Center.
At the Center City store, the day began with a "ceremonial coffee pour" by former Penn State and NFL star Devon Still. Wawa then recognized three Day Brightener customers who make Wawa "a special place filled with heart-warming moments," according to the company. Wawa and The Wawa Foundation also honored local and national charity organizations, including the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, with $1 million in gift cards.
Individual stores were planning to recognize their own Day Brighteners, the announcement said.
At the National Constitution Center, admission was free all day, thanks to Wawa.
Fans enjoy the party
Wawa fan Sharon Geller enjoyed the free coffee.
"Nothing goes better with a Wawa soft pretzel than their coffee," she said.
The coffee flowed all day, energizing Melanie Echevarria, who stops at the store at 6th and Chestnut streets in Old City after hard workouts.
"It mellows me out coming from the gym on my way home to get my kids," she said. "I have to have it."
People also learned a bit about Wawa's history with a new exhibit at the National Constitution Center. The company launched as a dairy farm on April 16, 1964, before growing into an iconic convenience store chain with more than a thousand locations in six states and Washington D.C.
Wawa's first store opened in Folsom, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1964, and the Wawa Foundation launched on that day in 2014.
In 2023, Wawa celebrated the opening of its 1,000th store — with free coffee for customers, of course.
