Wawa Exploring Possibility For Bradenton Store

The Wawa wave in Florida is looking to make a splash in Bradenton with a proposed convenience store at the former Eckerd Drug, 4455 State Road 64 East.

Belleair Development Group submitted Feb. 14 a pre-application for a 5,636-square-foot Wawa store with 16 pumps (eight islands) , and a pre-application meeting was held March 12, according to Bradenton Department of Planning & Community Development records. (A photo of the site plan is with this story.) No future meetings or reviews have been scheduled at this time as a full application has yet to be submitted.

"Nothing is going to happen in 2013, nothing is going to happen in 2014," said Christian Yepes of Belleair Development Group, who discouraged Patch from running a "premature" story.

"Pre-apps are virtually meaningless from a standpoint of going forward or not," he added. Zoning officials at City Hall acknowledged that there are a good batch of pre-applications in files that were never pursued to a complete application status, but they are public record.

Yepes cautioned anyone from overbuilding anticipation, warning that the project will proceed slowly, and it's possible that Wawa could not pursue the project.

"We're going to buy this piece whether Wawa is going to there or not," he said. Property records show that the land is owned by Stearns Bank National Association, which has an office in Sarasota, and is valued at $976,956.

The privately-held convenience store was founded in Wawa, Pa., and is known for its quality food as much as its gas. Much like its Pennsylvania competitor Sheetz, it features a wide selection of freshly brewed coffee, touch-screen ordering service for food and a bit of a cult following.  

Unlike Sheetz, Wawa has made a jump from the Mid-Atlantic to Florida, with a rapid expansion over the last year. Several stores have opened in the Tampa, St. Pete and Orlando markets and more are due to open this year, bringing the total to 14 in the Sunshine State.

Most Wawas are open 24 hours, 365 days a year. 

If Wawa were to be built, it could potentially create a sudden boom of gas stations on that stretch of SR 64. Beside the old Eckerd now is a 7-Eleven, and down the street is a Mobil gas station beside Publix. Across from the Mobil, Thorntons is attempting to build a 24-hour gas station on land owned by Faith United Church of Christ off of 48th Street Court East. That Thorntons plan is set for City Council review on March 27.

Belleaire Development's site plan for Wawa also includes a 6,000-square foot proposed retail store on 1.16 acres beside the gas station, but that was done to see how much square footage could be fit onto the property to acquire feedback from planning officials Yepes told Patch.

Patch has reached out to Wawa for comment and will update this story if our phone call is returned.

Do you want a Wawa in Bradenton? Should it be located at the old Eckerd Drug or elsewhere? Tell us below.

Florida Patch Coverage of Wawa:

• What Largo's Saying: Wawa Coming to Largo
• Largo's First Wawa Gets a Little More Space
• Plans for Wawa at Ulmerton Crossing Move Forward
• Walmart and Wawa Coming to Ulmerton Crossing
• Wawa Announces Opening Date in South Tampa
• Wawa Planning a Spring Opening in South Tampa
• Construction Under Way on Bloomingdale Avenue Wawa
• Is New Tarpon Springs Land for Wawa?