City Helps Wawa Go Doo Wop With New Wildwood Store Design
Just a few months ago, we revealed that a brand-new Wawa convenience store and fueling station was proposed for 3400 New Jersey Avenue in Wildwood — the current site of the Rite Aid store.
Now, thanks to insight from Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano, we’re learning that the building’s design is receiving some exciting, Wildwood-inspired touches.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano shared new details about the project, revealing that the city worked closely with Wawa to incorporate subtle architectural elements that reflect the island’s retro aesthetic.
“We worked with Wawa to get some design changes to the first drawings we received,” said Mayor Troiano. “There are some V designs in the exterior of the building that mirror the V that’s in the Wildwood sign as you enter Wildwood.”
Though Wawa wasn’t as flexible as they were during the design of their Rio Grande Avenue location, the team was receptive to key changes, particularly when it came to signage.
“We eliminated the two corner signs and created a large center sign that mirrors some of the Doo Wop features. I do like the sign,” Troiano said. “The building colors are their base colors and they did not want to deviate from them. It’s their signature.”
The proposed new Wawa would feature a 6,372-square-foot convenience store and a fueling station with five dispensers, offering 10 fueling positions. Additional site plans include 46 parking spaces, as well as landscaping, lighting, and signage enhancements that blend modern convenience with Wildwood’s signature aesthetic.
This would be the first new gas station on the island since 2022 and the first centrally located one, enhancing convenience for both year-round residents and summer visitors alike.
The city has long championed its unique Doo-Wop mid-century modern identity, and Mayor Troiano emphasized that encouraging developers to embrace that identity is a key part of the town’s planning philosophy.
“We try to get the developers excited about the design of Doo Wop, of which some like it and some are concerned about the additional costs associated with the changes,” he explained. “We encourage conversation so as to come to an agreed upon design.”
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Even modest features — curved lines, creative lighting, and nostalgic details — can help maintain Wildwood’s distinctiveness from all of the other shore towns in the Wildwoods.
“Some have no idea what Doo Wop design is,” Troiano noted, “so like I said, conversations are good.”
“Any time you can stand out from the obvious architecture of a community, you can make a statement that makes your community different, thus evoking conversation and curiosity.”
A Wawa spokesperson also shared excitement about the upcoming Wildwood project, confirming that this new location will represent the company’s latest prototype design.
“At Wawa, part of our commitment to our communities includes innovating, evolving, and updating our stores to meet changing consumer tastes and preferences,” the representative said.
“We are excited about the opportunity to further enhance and improve our Wawa offer here by upgrading our existing store with a new, modern Wawa store with fuel that reflects our current offer and experience. It will be our newest store prototype design. We believe that will position us to meet the needs of our customers and community for many years to come.”
The Wildwood Video Archive tried to reach out to Rite Aid for comment on what will happen to their pharmacy customers once the building closes but haven’t heard back as of yet.
There is no word as of yet when the closure of Rite Aid will take place.
Stay tuned for updates on when construction may begin — and when this blend of convenience, fuel, and flair officially opens its doors.
A new Wawa with fuel is coming to Wildwood, NJ. City officials worked with Wawa to include Doo Wop elements in the design. Includes parking, fuel, and more.