Wawa marks 50 years with free coffee

Jay Stellenberg comes to Wawa regularly to pick up a cup of cappuccino.

On Wednesday, he was joined by his wife, Lynda, who grabbed a vanilla cappuccino with a caramel steamer. She came along to partake in the “50th anniversary in retail” celebration for the convenience store. They were giving away coffee to everyone.

It’s hard to beat free, but Stellenberg said that’s not what made him a Wawa fan. He likes the cappuccinos, he said, but he likes the staff at the Concord Pike store even more.

“They are always very friendly,” he said.

The history of the Pennsylvania-based company, which has many stores in Delaware, stretches back 200 years. It has transformed its business several times, moving from a foundry, cotton mill and dairy before beginning as a retail convenience store 50 years ago in Folsom, Pa.

To celebrate the business, there was an 8 a.m. event in Philadelphia on Wednesday that was to include the “first ceremonial pour” of free coffee from Wawa CEO and President Chris Gheysens. They expected to give away a million cups of coffee. At the New Castle County Concord Pike store, a store manager estimated they’d give away about 3,000 cups.

In Delaware, word spread fast about the free java.

Fred Krumm, of Chadds Ford, Pa., stopped to pick up a cup on his way to play a round of golf at the DuPont Country Club. It was a little chilly, so the hot drink would be a great thing to have on the course, he said.

Not everyone knew there was free coffee. Ashanti Pernsley, of Chester, Pa., was at the convenience store to grab a copy of a newspaper to see her nephew’s picture.

“It was a great surprise,” Pernsley said.

Contact Nichole Dobo at (302) 324-2281 or ndobo@delawareonline.com. On Twitter @NicholeDobo.