Buying Beer At Wawa In Pennsylvania: What's The Deal?

Wawa is a convenience store chain with nearly 1,000 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. While Wawa has sold beer in other states for years, it was unable to do so in its home state of Pennsylvania due to strict liquor licensing laws and in-store seating requirements. However, in 2017, Wawa opened its first Pennsylvania store to sell beer in Concord Township, Delaware County. Since then, Wawa has slowly expanded beer sales to a handful of other Pennsylvania locations, with plans to add up to 10 new beer-selling stores in the state in 2022.

Wawa in Concord Township, Delaware County, PA sells beer

Wawa's Concord Township store has some restrictions on beer sales. Customers can only buy up to two six-packs at a time, and they can only drink one beer per person while in the store. They must consume their beer in the designated seating area.

Wawa's decision to sell beer in Concord Township, PA, was driven by its desire to meet the evolving needs of its customers. According to CEO Chris Gheysens, many people would buy a hoagie from Wawa and then go to another store to purchase beer to go with their meal. By offering beer, Wawa provides a one-stop solution for its customers.

However, Wawa does not plan to replicate the Concord Township store model across Pennsylvania. The high cost of liquor licenses and the challenge of integrating liquor licenses into existing stores pose significant obstacles. Pennsylvania's liquor laws require convenience stores to obtain a restaurant liquor license, which can cost over $100,000, and mandate that stores with liquor licenses provide seating. As a result, Wawa's strategy for beer sales in Pennsylvania will focus primarily on new-store concepts rather than retrofitting existing stores.

Wawa's policy is to impose a limit of one beer per person in-store

The policy of limiting customers to one beer while in the store is likely to help Wawa maintain a safe and responsible drinking environment. It also ensures that the store complies with any local laws and regulations regarding alcohol consumption. This is particularly important in Pennsylvania, where liquor licenses are not uniform across the state, and prices vary significantly from county to county.

Wawa's policy on beer sales seems to be part of a strategy to address a customer need. As CEO Chris Gheysens noted, many people would buy a hoagie from Wawa and then go to another store to purchase beer to go with their meal. By offering beer in select stores, Wawa is providing a convenient option for customers who want to purchase both food and alcohol in one place.

However, Wawa's expansion into beer sales in Pennsylvania has been slow due to various challenges. High-priced liquor licenses and the requirement to provide seating in stores have been significant obstacles. As a result, Wawa has focused on adding beer sales to new stores rather than retrofitting existing locations.

While Wawa has been selling beer in other states such as Virginia and Florida for some time, the company is taking a cautious approach in its home state of Pennsylvania. The policy of limiting customers to one beer while in the store is likely a reflection of Wawa's commitment to responsible alcohol sales and ensuring customer safety.

Wawa is slowly expanding beer sales in Pennsylvania

In 2022, the company plans to add up to 10 new beer-selling stores in Pennsylvania, according to CEO Chris Gheysens. However, this expansion is a slow process due to various challenges, including high-priced liquor licenses and in-store seating requirements. Pennsylvania requires c-stores to purchase a restaurant liquor license, which can cost $100,000 or more, compared to other markets where Wawa operates, where liquor licenses can be acquired for a few hundred dollars.

The upcoming beer-selling Wawa stores will mostly be new-store concepts rather than existing stores, as it is challenging to add alcohol space to existing locations. Wawa is also facing competition from other retail stores entering the market, which drives up liquor license prices. Despite these challenges, Wawa is committed to meeting customer needs and providing a unique offering that combines convenience and beer sales.

Some of the Pennsylvania Wawa locations that currently sell beer include the stores at 2608 Chichester Ave. in Boothwyn, 1139 Horsham Road in Horsham, and 2600 Penrose Ave. in Philadelphia, known as the "Stadium Store" due to its proximity to the sports complex. The store in Concord Township, Delaware County, which was the first to sell beer in Pennsylvania, features a 400-square-foot seating area and a beer cave. Customers can purchase up to two six-packs at a time and are limited to one beer per person if they choose to drink in the designated seating area.

Wawa in Philadelphia sells beer and is located near stadiums

Wawa, a convenience store chain, has expanded its offering of beer in Pennsylvania. While Wawa has been selling beer in other states, including Virginia and Florida, it has been a slow process to introduce beer sales in its home state of Pennsylvania due to high-priced liquor licenses and in-store seating requirements. Pennsylvania requires convenience stores to purchase a restaurant liquor license, which can cost $100,000 or more, and to provide seating for customers.

Despite these challenges, Wawa has been gradually adding beer to the menus of select stores in Pennsylvania. In February 2017, the Wawa store in Concord Township, Delaware County, became the first in the state to sell beer. This store features a designated seating area and a beer cave. Since then, a small number of other Wawa locations in Pennsylvania have started selling beer, including a store in South Philadelphia, located near the stadiums, which is particularly convenient for customers looking to purchase a six-pack for a tailgate before a game.

The South Philadelphia "Stadium Store" is positioned just a 2-mile drive from the stadiums and offers all the usual food and drink options, in addition to beer. This store also has fuel pumps and a digital billboard supporting Philadelphia's bid to host FIFA World Cup matches in 2026.

Wawa's CEO, Chris Gheysens, has acknowledged that integrating liquor licenses into their stores is a response to customer needs, as it allows them to purchase both their hoagies and beer in one stop. However, due to the challenges of adding alcohol space to existing stores, Wawa plans to focus on introducing beer sales in new stores rather than retrofitting older ones.

Wawa in Pennsylvania requires a restaurant liquor license to sell beer

Wawa is a convenience store chain with nearly 1,000 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, and Washington, D.C. While Wawa has been selling beer in other states for some time, it was only in February 2017 that the company began selling beer in its home state of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's liquor laws have presented a challenge to Wawa's expansion of beer sales in the state. The state requires convenience stores to purchase a restaurant liquor license, which can cost $100,000 or more, compared to other markets where Wawa can acquire liquor licenses for a few hundred dollars. Obtaining a restaurant liquor license also requires a store to offer seating for customers, which can be difficult for smaller Wawa locations.

Despite the challenges, Wawa has been slowly expanding its beer sales in Pennsylvania. In 2024, the company announced plans to add up to 10 new beer-selling stores in the state, bringing the total number of Pennsylvania Wawa locations that sell beer to around 15. The first Wawa store in Pennsylvania to sell beer was in Concord Township, Delaware County, which reopened after renovations in February 2017. This location includes a 400-square-foot seating area and a beer cave. Other Wawa locations in Pennsylvania that sell beer include stores in South Philadelphia, Boothwyn, Horsham, and Royersford.

Wawa's expansion of beer sales in Pennsylvania is part of a strategy to address customer needs. According to CEO Chris Gheysens, many customers would buy a hoagie at Wawa and then go to another store to buy beer to go with their meal. By offering beer at select locations, Wawa is providing a one-stop shop for its customers. However, Wawa does not plan to fully roll out beer sales across all its stores in the state due to the challenges of integrating liquor licenses and alcohol space into existing stores. Instead, beer sales will largely be restricted to new-store concepts.

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