Wawa closes another Center City store amid growing concerns

In December 2024, Wawa, a popular convenience store chain, announced the impending closure of its store located at the intersection of 16th and Ranstead streets in Center City Philadelphia. Set to shut down on December 9, this decision marks another setback for the company as it faces a trend of store closures in the urban area. This particular store, which opened in 2020, was initially designed as a pilot for a smaller urban concept that included a walk-up window to cater to the increasing density of city dwellers. The company stated that the limited size of the store has hampered its ability to deliver the comprehensive in-store experience that customers expect from Wawa. As a result, the 16th and Ranstead location will shut its doors just a few days before the end of the year, following a notable pattern of closures in the city. Previously, in early 2023, Wawa closed another store in the Spring Garden section, primarily due to the property owner’s refusal to renew the lease. In addition, safety and security challenges led to the closure of two Center City stores in 2022; these were located at prominent intersections of 19th and Market streets and 12th and Market streets. Despite these setbacks, Wawa continues to maintain multiple operational locations in Center City, indicating that while some stores are closing, the company is not completely withdrawing from the urban market. Wawa has assured that all employees from the 16th and Ranstead store have been offered opportunities to transition to nearby locations, showing the company’s commitment to employee welfare during times of restructuring. However, the ongoing trend of closures is indicative of the challenges that urban convenience stores face, including intense competition, operational costs, and customer expectations in increasingly compact retail spaces.