The Great Wawa vs. Sheetz Debate

The Great Wawa vs. Sheetz Debate: A South Jersey Girl’s Perspective

If you’re from South Jersey, there are certain things you just know.

You know the difference between the Shore and “going downtheShore.” You know that pork roll is pork roll and you probably have an opinion about anyone who calls it Taylor ham. You know how to navigate the jughandles. And if someone asks you “Wawa or Sheetz?” … well, you might want to think carefully before answering because this isn't just a question about where to buy gas.

This is personal.

Growing Up South Jersey Means Growing Up Wawa

I’m from South Jersey, so for me, “Wawa isn't just a convenience store. It's part of the culture.” Wawa has been woven into South Jersey life for generations. New Jersey's first Wawa opened in Vineland in 1968, bringing the Pennsylvania-born company right into the heart of South Jersey. ([New Jersey Monthly][1])

For many of us, Wawa was where you stopped for breakfast on the way to work, grabbed a hoagie after a day at the beach, bought coffee before a road trip, or met up with friends because nobody could think of anywhere else to go. And then there's the Wawa ordering system. You walk in. You go to the little touchscreen. You start building your sandwich. And before you know it, you're debating whether you really need extra meat, extra cheese, hot peppers, sweet peppers, onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, oil and vinegar…Yes. Yes, you do. It's a Wawa hoagie!

Then Along Came Sheetz

Sheetz is no slouch. The company started in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and built a huge following throughout central and western Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Like Wawa, Sheetz grew from a family business into a major convenience-store chain offering food, fuel, and plenty of options for people on the go. ([WHYY][2]) And Sheetz has its fans. Very loyal fans.

The Wawa-Sheetz rivalry has become so intense that it's been described as one of the country's great regional food rivalries. For years, the two chains largely stayed in their own territories, Wawa dominating eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey while Sheetz dominated central and western Pennsylvania. ([Wikipedia][3]) But eventually, those lines started getting blurry. And that's when things got interesting.

It's More Than Gas and Sandwiches

If you live somewhere else, you might look at this whole argument and say: “They're gas stations. What's the big deal?” Oh, my friend. You don't understand. Ask someone from Pennsylvania or South Jersey whether Wawa or Sheetz is better and you're not simply asking about food. You're asking about regional identity. It's like asking someone which football team they root for, (Eagles, obviously). Which pizza place is better? Or whether pineapple belongs on pizza (Ew, no). People have opinions. Strong opinions. Wawa fans have their hoagies, Shortis, breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Sheetz fans have their MTO Made-To-Order menu, snacks, drinks, and their own cult following. And both sides are convinced they're right.

The South Jersey Advantage

Now let me make something perfectly clear. I'm from South Jersey. So there is absolutely no impartiality happening here. I'm Team Wawa. There is something about pulling into a Wawa when you're traveling that makes you feel like you've come home. You could be hours away, see that familiar sign and think: Yep. There's my Wawa. And suddenly you know exactly what you're ordering. Coffee. A Hoagie. Maybe a pretzel. Definitely something you didn't plan on buying. That's the Wawa experience.

But I'll Give Sheetz Some Credit

I may be from South Jersey, but I'm willing to admit that Sheetz has some serious fans, and there's a reason for it. Sheetz has pushed hard into markets where Wawa traditionally had the advantage, while Wawa has been expanding into areas historically associated with Sheetz. The two companies are increasingly finding themselves competing closer together instead of staying on opposite sides of the traditional Pennsylvania divide. ([Philadelphia Magazine][4])

In other words, the convenience-store cold war isn't staying cold. The borders are moving. And apparently we're all going to have to pick a side.

Wawa vs. Sheetz: The Totally Scientific South Jersey Scorecard

Let's settle this once and for all….

Hoagies: Wawa

Coffee: Wawa

Breakfast:: Depends who you ask.

Made-to-order food: Sheetz definitely deserves some points, but Wawa is no slouch

South Jersey nostalgia: Wawa hands down.

Road-trip stop: Either one will work.

Regional loyalty: Both sides are absolutely ridiculous.

Arguments with your friends: Tie. It also depends where you are and how much drinking was involved.

Chance of someone getting offended when you say the “wrong” one: Extremely high.

The Truth Is…

Maybe the Wawa vs. Sheetz rivalry isn't really about which store is better. Maybe it's about where you're from. It's about memories. It's about the places you stopped when you were growing up. It's about the first cup of coffee you bought on your way to work. It's about grabbing food before heading to the beach. It's about late-night runs with friends. It's about seeing that familiar sign and knowing exactly what you're going to order. And for those of us from South Jersey, Wawa has a pretty big head start in that department. Wawa isn't just somewhere you stop. It's part of growing up in South Jersey.

So I'll happily give Sheetz its credit. I'll admit that Sheetz has good food. I'll even admit that Sheetz fans can make a pretty convincing argument. But when it comes down to it… I'm from South Jersey…Give me my Wawa. I'll see you at the Shore. And yes, I'll probably be ordering a hoagie.