Wildwood Rite Aid Closing—Wawa to Build Retro Gas Station – Final Tour
It’s the end of an era in Wildwood as the Rite Aid located at Schellenger and New Jersey Ave (3400 New Jersey Ave) is officially closing its doors on Sunday, July 19th.
Wildwood Rite Aid Closing—Wawa to Build Retro Gas Station – Final Tour
There are a ton of mixed feelings about this one, especially since the island has seen a massive shift away from drug stores, now with only three left, as many of these corporations are restructuring nationwide.
The Wildwood Video Archive stopped by before demolition to film a video inside. You can watch that video at the bottom of this article.
In May 2025, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy and began winding down operations, targeting all remaining ~1,200 to 1,245 stores for closure or asset sale.
This opened the door for Wawa to swoop in and take over the location.
If you remember, this property used to be part of the Wildwood bus terminal many moons ago. It was in the late 1990s when the terminal was relocated next to Wildwood’s City Hall, and not long after, the Rite Aid was built.
But just like everything else on this island, things change.
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A few months ago, the Wildwood Video Archive broke the news that Wawa was purchasing this location with the intention of turning it into a Super Wawa.
While there is already a Wawa just two blocks away, this one will be very different. Not only will it feature a massive store, but it will also include 10 fuel pumps.
The biggest surprise? Wawa has committed to designing this location in Doo-Wop style!
That’s right! Wawa is going full retro with this build, just like their location on Rio Grande Ave.
Wildwood takes pride in its retro roots and has always encouraged new businesses to embrace the theme. Over the years, we’ve seen places like the Waves Motel, Madison Resorts, and the Vibe Motel fully commit to the Doo-Wop aesthetic, and both visitors and locals love it.
By committing to a Doo-Wop design, Wawa is helping maintain the island’s unique character. It’s not just smart branding, it actually becomes a kind of tourist attraction. The Wawa on Rio Grande Ave is one of the most photographed locations in their entire chain.
So what can we expect from this new Wawa?
In addition to the traditional fuel pumps (5 pumps, with one on each side), the 6,000+ square foot store will feature many of the design elements found on our classic Doo-Wop motels.
You will see Googie-style signage, “blast-off” roof elements, and bold, playful, futuristic shapes inspired by the post-war Space Age and Atomic Era (a.k.a. what the Wildwoods are known for!).
The main highlight will be the iconic sign planned for the corner of Schellenger and New Jersey Ave, a sign that Mayor Ernie Troiano personally made sure would be boldly Doo-Wop!
What will happen to the old Wawa? The WVA reached out to Wawa for a comment but haven’t heard back yet. Most likely though it will be torn town and condos will be built in its place.
For many, the idea of a fresh, retro-styled Wawa in Wildwood is exciting. It blends old-school charm with modern convenience, an upgrade that respects the island’s aesthetic.
While demolition permits haven’t been filed just yet for the Rite Aid, we’re being told that work could begin as early as this fall, with hopes of opening sometime in 2026.
Until then, all eyes will be on 3400 New Jersey Ave, as another chapter in Wildwood’s story gets ready to turn.
Before you watch the video below, please consider subscribing to the Wildwood Video Archive YouTube Channel.
Stay tuned to the WVA for updates as this story develops as we’ll be there for the demolition and the construction of the new Wildwood Wawa!