Lettuce showers down over police and firefighters who try to make as many hoagies as they can in 2 minutes during the Hoagies for Heros contest as hundreds turned out in freezing cold to attend the grand opening of the Wawa store in Williamsport Thursday morning. A line of people stood outside since before 5 a.m. to be one of the first customers in the store. Guests were greeted by Wawa employees clapping as they entered the new location. The first 100 customers were given a special Wawa t-shirt and a welcome by Wawa corporate mascot Wally Goose. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Over the next five years, Wawa officials say they plan to have up to 40 stores, opening about five to seven a year to serve the central Pennsylvania market.

For Thursday’s grand opening at 164 Maynard St. in Williamsport, Wawa officials shared how the privately held company began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey.

Toward the end of the 19th century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plan in Wawa, Pa., in 1902.

The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and certified process.

As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Since, Wawa has opened 1,100 stores across the state.

Today, the store features freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, surcharge-free ATMs and free air.

“Through it all, our values and purpose of fulfilling lives has endured,” Jim Magee, Wawa director of store operations, said to cheers at a Wawa grand opening Thursday in Williamsport.

“I love it. I love it,” he said.

Magee said he considered the grand opening to be an incredible moment and a long time coming. “We are thrilled to finally reach this market and continue our migration into central Pennsylvania,” he said.

Wawa listened to many people who wanted to have the chain spread its wingspan into this market, he added.

“What can I say? ‘Wawa welcome to Lycoming County,'” Lycoming County Commissioner Marc Sortman said. “We are absolutely thrilled to finally have a Wawa here.”

“What a great spot,” Sortman added. “What a great transformation of this piece of land.”

Over the last five years, Mayor Derek Slaughter acknowledged he received numerous texts and calls asking him, ‘Can we please get a Wawa?'”

“Wawa’s grand opening marks an exciting milestone for our community,” Slaughter remarked. “It is not just the launch of a new store, but a symbol of growth and opportunity for our area. New businesses like Wawa play a vital role in driving economic growth, enhancing our local tax base, and creating job opportunities. We are thrilled to welcome them to Williamsport and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our region as a whole.”

“I think it is clear the excitement, the energy in Lycoming County and in Williamsport is here,” Slaughter said, then asking for a favor. “Make sure you continue to support our businesses,” he said, adding how they are the backbone and heartbeat of communities.

This store opening was made possible through efforts by state and local officials and entities such as the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, and its president and CEO Jason Fink.

Also in attendance were representatives for the office of state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, and state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, Michael Reed, president of Pennsylvania College of Technology, Lycoming County Commissioners Mark Mussina and Marc Sortman; the administration and council of Williamsport, including Council President Adam Yoder.

Early in discussions with the city, council played a crucial role listening to the developers and then approving a $1 million allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act funding. This money went into the start-up infrastructure needs for the development, including the Chick-fil-A site development at Maynard Commons.