Wawa opens in Gaithersburg (Photos)

The first Wawa convenience store and mega gas station celebrated its Grand Opening yesterday, March 7, 2024 at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Many of the price promotions for the opening remain in effect through Sunday, as you will see in some of the photos below. The gleaming interior holds, if not every snack you can imagine, every snack you need. 

Located directly across MD 355 from Gaithersburg High School, Wawa has posted a prohibition on having more than two minors inside the store at any time. Backpacks are also prohibited beyond the vestibule of the store. It will be interesting to compare gas prices at this Wawa with competitors Sheetz and Royal Farms up the road in the coming months.

Wawa sets opening date for Gaithersburg store

The first Wawa to open in Montgomery County finally has an opening date, after nearly five years of anticipation, planning, government approvals and construction. Wawa will open at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg with a Grand Opening event on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7:45 AM. Festivities will begin with a countdown at 7:45 AM, until the doors officially open at 8:00 AM. The first 100 customers through the door will receive a commemorative "In My Wawa Era 60th Anniversary" t-shirt, which recalls the opening of the first Wawa store in Folsom, Pennsylvania in 1964. All customers will receive a free hot coffee in the size of their choice.

A ceremonial toast will be held at 8:30 AM, followed by a Hoagies for Heroes competition in which the Gaithersburg Police Department and Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Station 8 personnel will build Wawa sandwiches. Wawa mascot Wally Goose will then lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Wawa is proud to open its doors to provide trusted quality products, convenience, new jobs, support, and to Fulfill Lives in the community," the company said in a statement. "The event will celebrate new associates and customers and simple gestures, like holding the door for one another, that together make a big difference in making Wawa’s family-like store atmosphere possible. The grand opening celebration will gather the community to welcome everyone on day one and celebrate the impact the new store will have on its neighbors and community."

Menu screens activated inside Wawa opening soon in Gaithersburg

The opening of the first Wawa in Montgomery County is that much closer today, with the activation of the animated flatscreen menu boards inside the convenience store at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Through the windows, the screens could be seen cycling through menu items and promotional messages. 

Outside the building, fresh asphalt has been laid down on part of the parking lot area, and striping has been painted for parking spaces and crosswalks. Gas pumps have been in place since last November, and remain taped off for now. Wawa continues to show no dates for this, or any other new Wawa store, on the "Store Grand Openings" page on its website as of this writing.

Wawa Gaithersburg construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the current status of the future Wawa convenience store and mega gas station at 405 South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Not much has advanced since my last report, and stacks of pipes and a dumpster are still under the gas pump canopy. There isn't an opening date published on the chain's Grand Opening page, either, as of this writing. The patience of Wawa fans in Montgomery County continues to be tried mightily.

Wawa Gaithersburg construction update (Photos)

There's been some major progress at the Wawa Gaithersburg construction site at 405 S. Frederick Avenue over the last few weeks. Brick and stone facade cladding are now in place on the convenience store building, as well as roof tile. The support columns under the gas station canopy also sport decorative quarry stone. Safety bollards have been installed at the curb outside the convenience store. There's still no opening date posted by the chain for this store, but the end is at least in sight for Wawa fans in Gaithersburg.

Gaithersburg Wawa construction + jobs update (Photos)

Montgomery County's first Wawa convenience store has begun hiring at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Applications are now being accepted in three job categories at Wawa.com/careers: Customer service associate, customer service supervisor and overnight team supervisor. Meanwhile, at the store site, the first glass panels have been installed in the storefront. Stone has also been installed on two pillars in front of the entrance, and along the lower facade of the store building.

Want to buy Montgomery County's first Wawa store? It'll cost you $8 million

The first Wawa store in Montgomery County hasn't even opened yet, and it's already for sale. Now under construction at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, the store could be yours for $7,957,000. Does that include unlimited Gobbler sandwiches? That question would probably rank a distant second to the one on most Wawa fans' minds for the last several years, namely, when is the Gaithersburg Wawa opening? The online sale listing gives us the best clue yet, as it notes that Wawa's lease will commence in November 2023.

Wawa's Gaithersburg NNN ground lease has a primary term of 20 years, with 10% rent increases every 5 years, and six 5-year renewal options, indicating the chain is here in Montgomery County for the long haul. That rent will go to you, if you are the lucky buyer with $8 million burning a hole in your pocket. 

The sale listing goes on to describe the Gaithersburg Wawa's prime location on busy MD 355 across from Gaithersburg High School, and the rarity of a Wawa store in the area. "Currently under construction, this location will be Gaithersburg’s first Wawa store and will serve as Wawa’s long awaited first store along the I-270 corridor outside of Washington, D.C. There are currently no Wawa locations northwest of D.C. along the interstate until the I-270/I-70 interchange in Frederick, MD over 20 miles away."

Wawa Gaithersburg construction update (Photos)

Yesterday we looked at the construction status of the soon-to-open Sheetz in Gaithersburg. Now, let's look at competitor Wawa, which has been working for years to bring its brand to 405 S. Frederick Avenue in the city. You can see that all of the walls are completed on the convenience store building, and we're now in Tyvek mode. Meanwhile, an extensive network of blue rubber hoses is being installed beneath the future gas station canopy.