Rite Aid Demolition Begins for New Doo Wop Inspired Wildwood Wawa

Rite Aid Demolition Begins for New Doo Wop Inspired Wildwood Wawa

The final days of 2025 here in Wildwood are going down with a bang, quite literally, as crews have officially started demolishing the former Rite Aid building at 3400 New Jersey Avenue.

This demolition clears the way for a new Wawa location that has been planned for months and is designed to reflect the island’s iconic Doo Wop architectural style.

The Rite Aid at the corner of Schellenger and New Jersey Avenue closed its doors on Sunday, July 19, 2025, marking the end of an era for the long-time pharmacy location once part of the Wildwood bus terminal.

The closure came amid broader corporate restructuring by Rite Aid, which filed for bankruptcy and announced a series of store closures nationwide. South Jersey saw a most of the Rite Aid locations closed down.

After the closure, the Wildwood Video Archive captured inside footage of the empty store in its final days of operation, preserving a final look at a familiar local landmark before it comes down. You can check out that footage at the bottom of this article.

A Major Upgrade for the Area

The new Wawa will significantly transform this site. Unlike the old Rite Aid, the Wawa planned for this location will feature a large convenience store of more than 6,000 square feet and ten fuel pumps across multiple dispensers. It will serve as a major fueling station and one of the few gas options in this part of Wildwood.

What sets this Wawa apart from typical convenience store designs is its commitment to Wildwood’s unique mid-century Doo Wop heritage. City officials worked with Wawa during the planning process to ensure the building and signage embrace retro influences.

Expect Googie-style signage, bold geometric roof lines, and colorful elements that echo the classic Doo Wop and Space Age look that once dominated the shore’s roadside architecture.

The main corner sign planned for Schellenger and New Jersey Avenue was a particular focus for the city, with Mayor Ernie Troiano personally advocating for a design that reflects Wildwood’s character.

A Site With History and Future

This property has long been a part of Wildwood’s evolving landscape.

Originally, the site of the Wildwood bus terminal in the late 1990s, the location was redeveloped as a Rite Aid soon after the terminal moved. (Who else remembers getting off the bus here?)

Now that chapter is ending to make way for what many hope will become a distinctive community asset.

Also See: Did You Know New Jersey Beach Boxes and Lifeguard Stands Are Built By Inmates?

Although there is already a Wawa just two blocks away, that location does not include fuel and is much smaller.

The new Wawa is intended to serve a broader range of needs for both residents and visitors, offering food, beverages, services, and gas in one location.

We do know that the other Wawa will close down after this one opens late next year, but we don’t know what will be happening to the land.

What Happens Next

With demolition now underway, site preparation will continue over the coming weeks.

After the building is cleared, crews will begin installing foundational utilities, fuel infrastructure, and the structural work for the new building.

While no official opening date has been announced, project observers estimate that construction could move swiftly once the site is fully cleared and prepared.

As with many large projects, the timeline will be influenced by weather, inspections, and permitting milestones. Still, the visible progress at 3400 New Jersey Avenue signals a significant step forward in Wildwood’s commercial redevelopment.

Wildwood Video Archive will continue to follow this story and share updates throughout demolition and construction. Stay tuned for photo and video coverage of the site as it transforms.

Below is our final tour inside. Before you watch, please consider subscribing to our Youtube channel