There are some chain stores and franchises that get people excited when they come to town.
Anytime an H&M opens, for example, the local paper will usually run a picture of young women lined up outside, ready to snap up bargain-priced fashions. Lululemon, a maker of high-end yoga apparel, and ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery are often greeted with similar levels of enthusiasm.
Wawa tends to be one of those "rock star" franchises. Its quirky identity and out-of-the-ordinary deli have earned it a fan base that's far more passionate than one would expect for a gas station.
On March 20, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain opened its ninth Orlando-area location, in the 2200 block of North Semoran Boulevard in Winter Park.
Wawa is on a tear of expanding locally. The North Semoran Boulevard location is the third store to open in or around Orlando this year and six more are planned before we hit 2014. In the past, Wawa executives have said Florida features prominently in the chain's nationwide expansion plan.
It will be interesting to see how Wawa fares with all of these new stores. When it comes to franchises, popularity does not always translate to economic success.
Dunkin' Donuts, for example, is generally regarded as a model for judicious expansion; it opens new stores at a pace that satisfies its devoted fan base without wearing it out. On the other hand you have Krispy Kreme, which opened far too many stores far too quickly and oversaturated the market.
Source: The Orlando Business Journal, "Wawa opened ninth store this week, more in the works," Anjali Fluker, March 22, 2013
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