Img 7561 Scaled E1713994812625 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — We were treated to samples of pizza, hoagies, smoothies + more. (Liv George / The Bama Buzz)

Wawa has landed in Alabama. The first-ever location in the Yellowhammer State is set to open tomorrow morning. But before the grand opening, a media preview day. Keep reading for everything you need to know before you head over to Wawa.

What is Wawa?

Img 7861 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan shows off her ceremonial hoagie. (Liv George / The Bama Buzz)

Like Buc-ees’s, Wawa is your spot for an elevated gas station experience. They have all the customary convenience store items—chips, soft drinks + car accessories—wrapped around a mini-restaurant and coffee bar.

Wawa is a Philadelphia-based company with most locations in the Northeastern United States. They’re known for delicious milkshakes, a seasonal rotation of fresh coffee and kitchens whipping up yummy bites from hoagies to quesadillas.

Img 7879 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — The kitchen team is hard at work making more hoagies. (Liv George / The Bama Buzz)

Many folks I talked to said they love having another gas station in the area. Baldwin County, and more specifically Fairhope, is growing at an exponential rate as more people flock to the beaches. Another spot to fuel up (cars + selves!) makes life more convenient for Fairhopers.

Wawa also plans to expand across the Gulf Coast area—there’s a groundbreaking for a new store in Northwest Florida tomorrow. Locations in Mobile and Robertsdale are in the works, too.

Fast facts

Img 7897 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — First-ever Wawa in Alabama opens tomorrow—what you need to know 1

Address: 18968 Greeno Rd, Fairhope, AL 36532
Hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
More info

Grand opening

Img 7555 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — Learning to use the touch-screen food ordering system.

Img 7576 Fairhope, Food, Openings, Wawa — Learning to use the touch-screen food ordering system.

Tomorrow morning is the grand opening extravaganza, complete with a parade, giveaways and a ribbon-cutting. Here’s a list of what you can expect:

Free t-shirts for the first 250 customers
Full team busting through a “breakaway banner” to officially open the store
Meet Wally Goose, Wawa’s official mascot
“Hoagie for Heros” hoagie-building competition between local first responders
Free self-service hot coffee (any size!)

Wawa is also partnering with Baldwin County-based food charity, Prodisee Pantry, for their “Leading a Helping Hoagie” program, donating a portion of hoagie sales (up to $5,000) to the organization.

Check out all the fun I had at their preview:

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