Business & Tech

East Windsor Wawa to Celebrate 40 Years

The 40th family reunion anniversary celebration is set for Thursday.

Wawa will be celebratingΒ theΒ 40thΒ anniversary of theΒ Hickory RoadΒ Wawa locationΒ onΒ Thursday.Β To honor this special anniversary and to celebrate Wawa’s dedication to its East WindsorΒ family, Wawa is hosting a family reunion-style in-store celebration that will take place on the same day.Β 

The East Windsor store was built in June 29, 1973.Β Throughout the years, the store has evolved and been remodeled, bringing customers state-of-the-art facilities, service and convenience, according to a release issued by the company.

TheΒ 40thΒ family reunion anniversary celebration will begin at the store at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.Β During the festivities, Wawa will toast the generations of customers and associates for their friendship and business throughout the years, through free coffee all day.Β Β 

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Wawa will also recognize the USO, with a donation of $67,016.91 all raised through in-store donations by the customers and associates in New Jersey from June 10 throughΒ July 7 through the in-store UPC collection.

As a highlight of the event, honored customers will be invitedΒ to take pictures with Wawa’s Mascots Wally Goose and Shorti at a special in-store photo booth. Β All pictures will be posted through online photo albums atΒ www.wawaversary.com, capturing the memories forever.Β Β 

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Additionally, longtime customers can enter to be a part of the celebration and win special Wawaversary perks and, prior to the event, customers can enter to win a week’s worth of coffee by filling out an entry form. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of each Wawaversary event.Β 

β€œIt’s been wonderful to celebrate our customers and associates through our Wawaversary events, and as we enter the final year of these celebrations, we are reminded of the incredible bonds that make our associates, customers, and community partners part of one big extended Wawa family,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s President and CEO. β€œThese family reunions remind us of the strength of these connections and we want to say thank you to everyone who continues to make Wawa a place that not only simplifies lives, but feels like home!”

Wawaversary Event Specifics

To mark the start of the reunion, Wawa’s Mascot, Wally Goose and Shorti will lead theΒ Wawa Through the AgesΒ parade, which visually highlights Wawa’s key milestones. The parade features associates wearing oversized foam-board photos of everything from Wawa’s famous milk man, to everyone’s favorite hoagies, to the evolution of coffee cups through the years.Β 

Key Extended Family Members

As part of this milestone reunion celebration, Wawa will honorΒ Key Extended Family Members. Wawa has identified key customers who have frequented the location since the very first day it opened!Β 

To honor these key family members, the store’s General Manager,Β Carla Densten, will present each of these customers with a specially designedΒ golden travel mug, filled with one month’s worth of free Wawa coffee coupons and specialty beverages.Β  In addition, each of these customers will be presented with a ceremonial β€œkey to the store.” Cake and coffee will be served to all, with music and dancing to follow.Β Each Key Extended Family Member will also be presented with a t-shirt featuring the store number and how long they’ve been part of the Wawa Family!Β 

Key Immediate Family Members

The ceremony will also recognize the Key Immediate Family Members, Wawa’s longest-term associates at the store.Β  These Key Immediate Family Members will be presented with Wawaversary GooseBumps an internal Wawa recognition program that results in Wawa gear and prizes – in acknowledgement of the important role they play in forming Wawa’s bond with customers and the community.

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