The sound of plastic cluckers, hand-held clappers, being shaken by those standing in line filled the frigid air as store officials and Wawa’s Wally Goose, an anthropomorphic Canada goose mascot, roused those waiting to get inside the store at 164 Maynard St.

The festivities started about 7:45 a.m. with Wawa General Manager Lara Faine-Cribb doing the honors of counting down the moment when the doors opened for the first time at 8 a.m.

Customers entered with associates lining the gauntlet, cheering them on, and T-shirts were handed out to the first 100. Visitors were invited to sip free samples of Wawa’s limited time coffee flavor Carmel Cream and partake in free any-size coffee all day long.

Outside, local first responders raced to build as many hoagies as they could in a limited time during the Hoagies for Heroes contest.

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

For Conner DuBerville, 20, a student at the Pennsylvania College of Technology from Fort Washington studying automotive, engineering and robotics, the grand opening was his first.

“I am going to be here every morning,” he said, saying he went to Wawa in other locations and his favorites are the coffee, apple fritters and the pepperoni bagel melt.

For city resident Lillian Riebel, the hot coffee was the main draw.

The store not only offers a wide array of food, beverages and convenience items as well as fuel service, but is going to provide jobs.

Among the workers was Dylan Hamilton, 22, who said those who brought the Wawa here made the best decision that could have been made.

Why? Because, Hamilton said, he was hired.

Asked about his favorite thing he anticipated while working, Hamilton did not miss a beat.

“My favorite thing is they have a family-friendly atmosphere,” he said. “It feels like you are at your home.”

Wawa associates, uniquely, own 39% of the company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Wawa prides itself as a corporate partner in communities.

A $1,000 check was presented by Wawa to the Special Olympics of Lycoming County.

“I want to say ‘thank you’ Wawa and for all of you who make things like this possible,” said Jacob Carey, a Special Olympics’ athlete.

Because of events such as this Carey said he gets to take part in his favorite sports like bocce ball and swimming with my friends in the Susquehanna Valley and around the world.

“I have also learned to be a leader in the many different ways I can give back to my community,” he said. “Thanks to the funds raised we got important health services like free check ups and screenings that help keep us strong and healthy so we can keep doing all the things we love.”

Carl Bligan, assistant general manager, said the grand opening, meant this being the “finish line and the starting line.”

John Brindger, a commercial specialist with Re/Max West Branch, said he listed the foundry, the site where the Wawa was constructed, years ago with Walter “Bud” Doebler. The realtor said he had several people look at the land and one of the developers – Jon Jahanshahi, president for Famvest Partners, LLC, bought the property and they connected with Wawa.

Brindger said he also sold the land next door to the same developer where Chick-fil-A is going to go. “I feel like I am a part of history here today with this generational shifting,” Brindger said.

Doebler and his family had his family here for 100 years, producing railroad tracks and manhole covers.

To build each store, Wawa will invest about $7 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store employs an average of 35 associates, with the company expecting to create 1,400 new, long-term jobs as a result of expansion in this region.

Cody Lilly, Wawa area manager, said Wawa was expanding in central Pennsylvania. He introduced the store team.

“We know you will come to know us for our wonderful fresh food and our beverages,” Lilly said. “But I believe even more important you will become part of the Wawa family because of our people.”