[END OTT]

Originally Posted by gobuck827

What Boats did you serve on, Don?

I was an STS on the USS Aspro SSN-648 and the USS Thomas Jefferson SSBN/SSN-618.

YN2 on USS Grouper 214

[Goldwingnut]

I can't believe the number of comments on social media, YouTube, and emails I've received about calling Wawa - just another gas station. 60 types of fountain soda, 18 different coffees, 42 types of chips, and what is just more than gas station food - high fat, high sodium - it's still just a pretty gas station with a convenience store. It will make the 3rd such gas station at that intersection.

It's just a smelly gas station, calling it anything else is just putting lipstick on a pig.

[John Mayes]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I can't believe the number of comments on social media, YouTube, and emails I've received about calling Wawa - just another gas station. 60 types of fountain soda, 18 different coffees, 42 types of chips, and what is just more than gas station food - high fat, high sodium - it's still just a pretty gas station with a convenience store. It will make the 3rd such gas station at that intersection.

It's just a smelly gas station, calling it anything else is just putting lipstick on a pig.

Uh-oh. Now you’ve done it.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by John Mayes

Uh-oh. Now you’ve done it.

I know, I'm such an ogre, I've called a pretty gas station, just another gas station.

I guess I should be banned from the internet and the town squares...

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I know, I'm such an ogre, I've called a pretty gas station, just another gas station.

I guess I should be banned from the internet and the town squares...

LOL!!!

But they don't even have a car wash.

[Altavia]

Any idea when the new sections of Central Parkway will open replacing 470?

Can't wait for the complaints when they see all the new roundabouts.


(Trying to change the subject...)

[Papa_lecki]

Here’s the history of Wawa

It started out as a convenience store - grab a gallon of milk on the way home. A long time ago, it was actually a dairy farm, that eventually sold its milk in stores.
They then realized they should add gas pumps. You’re getting milk, quick fill up.
Then the gas pumps took over - i.e. went from a store with 8 pumps to stores with 12 or 16 or 20 pumps, they sold off stores where the real estate could handle a large number of pumps.

Then, they pivoted to a fast food joint, with a large number of gas pumps.
You can get sandwiches, soup, drinks, etc, while filling up.

Their sandwiches (Hoagies or Italian Sandwiches to us from Philly) would not make the top 100 Philadelphia hoagies, but they are consistent.
It’s basically a McDonalds with gas pumps.
Wawa is actually the 3rd largest retailer of food in the Philadelphia region.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Here’s the history of Wawa

It started out as a convenience store - grab a gallon of milk on the way home. A long time ago, it was actually a dairy farm, that eventually sold its milk in stores.
They then realized they should add gas pumps. You’re getting milk, quick fill up.
Then the gas pumps took over - i.e. went from a store with 8 pumps to stores with 12 or 16 or 20 pumps, they sold off stores where the real estate could handle a large number of pumps.

Then, they pivoted to a fast food joint, with a large number of gas pumps.
You can get sandwiches, soup, drinks, etc, while filling up.

Their sandwiches (Hoagies or Italian Sandwiches to us from Philly) would not make the top 100 Philadelphia hoagies, but they are consistent.
It’s basically a McDonalds with gas pumps.
Wawa is actually the 3rd largest retailer of food in the Philadelphia region.

If the 3rd largest retailer of food in Philadelphia is a chain of gas station convenience stores, that doesn’t say a lot for the folks that live there and their taste in food.

I was a Flyers and Phillies fan as a kid, used to love going to the games, the food was always awesome in Philly, especially the cheese steaks outstanding the stadium. Philly, in my opinion, had the second best food in the world, 2nd only to NYC and just ahead of Chicago - a very very close 3 way race. I always attributed this to simple economics, you couldn’t afford the rent and taxes to run a restaurant in these cities if you weren’t the best, if the guy down the street made a better dog, hoagie, or pie, he got all the business and you would go out of business.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

If the 3rd largest retailer of food in Philadelphia is a chain of gas station convenience stores, that doesn’t say a lot for the folks that live there and their taste in food.

That's just due to the sheer number of Wa-Was in Philly. No one else can compete with their volume.

Just like McDs is the #1 food retailer in the US... It's a numbers game...

I was a Flyers and Phillies fan as a kid, used to love going to the games, the food was always awesome in Philly, especially the cheese steaks outstanding the stadium. Philly, in my opinion, had the second best food in the world, 2nd only to NYC and just ahead of Chicago - a very very close 3 way race. I always attributed this to simple economics, you couldn’t afford the rent and taxes to run a restaurant in these cities if you weren’t the best, if the guy down the street made a better dog, hoagie, or pie, he got all the business and you would go out of business.

I loved the food in Philly when I went to school there... Geno's and Pat's... Jim's on South Street... Shopping at the Italian Market in South Philly... And the Reading Terminal Market...

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

I can't believe the number of comments on social media, YouTube, and emails I've received about calling Wawa - just another gas station. 60 types of fountain soda, 18 different coffees, 42 types of chips, and what is just more than gas station food - high fat, high sodium - it's still just a pretty gas station with a convenience store. It will make the 3rd such gas station at that intersection.

It's just a smelly gas station, calling it anything else is just putting lipstick on a pig.

I concur - as a new Florida resident (I had never even heard of WaWa until moving here), I don’t get the appeal, unless you live off of all that processed convenience store food - nothing to get excited about - it has been years since I have stepped foot inside a gas station - pay at the pump and leave as quick as I can.

[EviesGP]

Don, I totally agree on the entitled parking at Sawgrass(as they do on the golf courses)! I hope once they resod that area, they install fencing like the other side of the MMP?!

Also, along with the 25 CYVs at Hacienda, I was curious to see the layout and location of the 'controversial' apartments going in there?
Along with the new clubhouse, etc? It just doesn't seem likes there's enough room, without removing one of the 9 holes?

Finally, it's too bad they can't find a way to get to that sub? I was asked to do Sub(nuke) duty when I enlisted, and I just like the outside air too much(as I probably wouldn't have passed the 'Screen Door Test').

Cheers!
MikeM
EW2(ESWS) USN '82-'86
CMSgt(Ret) USAF(ANG) '88-'18

[Bilyclub]

Now I'm curious as to Don's opinion of Buc-ee's.

[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Now I'm curious as to Don's opinion of Buc-ee's.

What and where is Buc-ee's?

Right now, not knowing what it is, no opinion. Again, Wawa is just another gas station with a convenience store, just like all the others, and Culvers, the food is tasty, better than most fast food, but my experience with the service and management running the two local restaurants is - subpar/slow service and the management is either incompetent or indifferent to the customers, their concerns, and how their restaurant is run (the problems may start at the bottom, but the solutions start at the top).

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

What and where is Buc-ee's?

Right now, not knowing what it is, no opinion. Again, Wawa is just another gas station with a convenience store, just like all the others, and Culvers, the food is tasty, better than most fast food, but my experience with the service and management running the two local restaurants is - subpar/slow service and the management is either incompetent or indifferent to the customers, their concerns, and how their restaurant is run (the problems may start at the bottom, but the solutions start at the top).

Wawa has the best sandwiches of the fast food convenience stores and is often our go to while traveling.

Wait till you see the new Buccees opening up in Ocala. Not sure if you can call it a convenience store but kind of in a class of its own.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

What and where is Buc-ee's?

Right now, not knowing what it is, no opinion. Again, Wawa is just another gas station with a convenience store, just like all the others, and Culvers, the food is tasty, better than most fast food, but my experience with the service and management running the two local restaurants is - subpar/slow service and the management is either incompetent or indifferent to the customers, their concerns, and how their restaurant is run (the problems may start at the bottom, but the solutions start at the top).

Think gas station with a super, super, super Walmart attached. They are very popular (crowded) destinations for some people, ...


"Buc-ee’s is a huge travel center with an iconic beaver mascot and a cult following. The Texas-based company has slowly begun debuting spots in Florida. They currently operate one in St. Augustine, and another in Daytona Beach. A third Sunshine State location is on the way as the company has revealed they plan to open a massive new travel center in Ocala, east of Interstate 75 near W. Hwy 326.. The news was first reported by WFTV in Orlando.

The new Central Florida Buc-ee’s facility will have an 80,000-foot building, 120 gas pumps, 28 EV parking spaces, 750 general parking spaces, and a 125-foot tall pole with a sign on it. What makes Buc-ee’s such a phenomenon?"

Buc-ee's, the famous travel station and superstore, opening in Central Florida - That's So Tampa