Will St. Pete Get First Wawa Store?

Is St. Petersburg going to get its first Wawa convenience store?

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Agree Realty Corp. is preparing to purchase property on 34th Street North and 38th Avenue in St. Petersburg to develop a Wawa convenience store and gas station.

The new Wawa store will open in 2013, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Wawa did not respond to the statement by Agree Realty.

Currently, the closest store to St. Petersburg is at 3101 Gandy Blvd., Pinellas Park.

According to a press release from Agree Realty:

"The project is pre-leased under a long-term ground lease agreement and is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2013. This is the Company's fourth announced development for Wawa in the state of Florida."

Wawa is on an aggressive expansion across the Tampa Bay region, and last month announced the opening of its fifth store in five weeks.

According to a March 6, 2013, company press release:

"Wawa Inc. today announced a significant milestone in the company’s continued expansion to the Florida market —the grand opening of their fifth store in the Tampa Bay market – completing the five-week initial launch into the area! Located at 4026 US Hwy 19, New Port Richey, FL 34652, this location is the fifth of five Wawa stores to open in five weeks in the greater Tampa Bay area."

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