Wawa store opens in area; hundreds celebrate opening
MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Senior High School’s band plays in the parking lot during the Wawa store opening. Shown is the store’s mascot, Wally Goose.
Motorists driving along Colonial Boulevard could not escape the festivities of the grand opening of the latest Wawa store, at 11031 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.
Lehigh Acres residents were represented at the opening, along with several from Fort Myers, including a City Council member.
The Lehigh Senior High School Lightning Band played the national anthem before a crowd of more than 150 people who turned out for the opening.
There was dancing in the parking lot between a long line of gasoline pumps and the Wawa store, as well as with contests, including a tug-of-war.
The grand opening marked the ninth Wawa to open this year; it is the fourth store in Lee County and the 90th store in Florida.
One Wawa official even told the crowd that an opening for a store in the Orlando area was being held at the same time.
Clarence Patterson, of Cape Coral, is the general manager. He has a team of about 30 employees.
He said that employees in the full-time and part-time jobs will not only receive competitive salaries and health benefits but, once eligible, they will participate in Wawa’s employee stock ownership plan.
Wawa employees own more than 41 percent of Wawa through the stock ownership program.
The store will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.
The festivities at the opening included a parade of Wawa’s milestones – when the first Wawa store opened in the 1800s – local representatives, members of the Fort Myers Police Department’s SWAT team and the Fort Myers Fire Department.
Patterson led the parade in front of the store with Area Manager Peter Rasmussen, Director of Store Operations Dave Prevost, Wawa associates and customers and the Wawa mascot, Wally Goose.
They all participated with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The activities concluded with a Hoagies for Heroes hoagie building competition as the FMPD SWAT team and the FMFD faced off in a battle of bravery, skill and sandwich-making expertise.
Each team was challenged to see who could build the most hoagies in three minutes in the traditional Wawa way.
Wawa ended the fun with a $1,000 check for both teams for a charity of their choice.
Rasmussen said it was a pleasure to be a part of the Lehigh-Fort Myers neighborhood.
Wawa store opens in area; hundreds celebrate opening
MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Senior High School’s band plays in the parking lot during the Wawa store opening. Shown is the store’s mascot, Wally Goose.
Motorists driving along Colonial Boulevard could not escape the festivities of the grand opening of the latest Wawa store, at 11031 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.
Lehigh Acres residents were represented at the opening, along with several from Fort Myers, including a City Council member.
The Lehigh Senior High School Lightning Band played the national anthem before a crowd of more than 150 people who turned out for the opening.
There was dancing in the parking lot between a long line of gasoline pumps and the Wawa store, as well as with contests, including a tug-of-war.
The grand opening marked the ninth Wawa to open this year; it is the fourth store in Lee County and the 90th store in Florida.
One Wawa official even told the crowd that an opening for a store in the Orlando area was being held at the same time.
Clarence Patterson, of Cape Coral, is the general manager. He has a team of about 30 employees.
He said that employees in the full-time and part-time jobs will not only receive competitive salaries and health benefits but, once eligible, they will participate in Wawa’s employee stock ownership plan.
Wawa employees own more than 41 percent of Wawa through the stock ownership program.
The store will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.
The festivities at the opening included a parade of Wawa’s milestones – when the first Wawa store opened in the 1800s – local representatives, members of the Fort Myers Police Department’s SWAT team and the Fort Myers Fire Department.
Patterson led the parade in front of the store with Area Manager Peter Rasmussen, Director of Store Operations Dave Prevost, Wawa associates and customers and the Wawa mascot, Wally Goose.
They all participated with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The activities concluded with a Hoagies for Heroes hoagie building competition as the FMPD SWAT team and the FMFD faced off in a battle of bravery, skill and sandwich-making expertise.
Each team was challenged to see who could build the most hoagies in three minutes in the traditional Wawa way.
Wawa ended the fun with a $1,000 check for both teams for a charity of their choice.
Rasmussen said it was a pleasure to be a part of the Lehigh-Fort Myers neighborhood.
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