OKEECHOBEE- Construction is nearly completed on the Wawa in Okeechobee. The store is set to have its grand opening on July 15.

The store, located at 200 NW Park Street in Okeechobee, is hosting an outdoor ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 15, from 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., featuring local officials, charitable contributions and a recognition of local heroes.

As part of the festivities, Wawa will host its signature “Hoagies for Heroes” hoagie-building competition between the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office and Okeechobee Fire Rescue, and Wawa will launch its “Lending a Helping Hoagie” initiative, where Wawa will donate a portion of all first week hoagie sales from the new Okeechobee store (up to $2,000) to the Treasure Coast Food Bank.

In attendance at the ribbon cutting will be Jon Waddingham, Wawa area manager, Andy Stephens, Wawa general manager, Okeechobee City Councilman Bobby Keefe, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, Okeechobee County Fire Rescue, Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County, Representatives from Treasure Coast Food Bank, and Wally Goose, Wawa’s Mascot.

The Okeechobee store will open to the community at 8 a.m. on July 15. Limited-edition Wawa Okeechobee t-shirts will be offered to the first 100 customers, as supplies last, and Wawa will offer free coffee to all customers at the Okeechobee location from July 15 through July 25.

The convenience store has been highly anticipated in Okeechobee ever since the property was first cleared back in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the start of construction.

In a December 2019 Okeechobee City Council meeting, the then administrator Marcos Montes De Oca assured the public that the long planned for store would be on the way.

 “They just need to wrap up the site development work, and then we wait for the machine to churn it out from corporate America,” Marcos said. “They typically don’t take this long, but there is nothing wrong. You can rest assured, it’s still coming.”

In a press release Wawa says their new Okeechobee store will also feature some innovations in convenience including mobile ordering, curbside pickup, and delivery options, In addition, this store will feature the latest in Wawa’s fresh, quality and convenient food options, including the new dinner menu offerings, such as the new burger, pasta, Kids Meals, Heat and Eat Meals and more.