Pennsylvania’s Convenience Store Conflict
Conflicts often arise between two or multiple groups of people. Typically, from different ideals that groups of people have. These tend to break out into quarrels on the street or large scale wars out into the battlefield. Or if people are more refined, they are taken to a room or a stage to debate thoughts and ideals. People fight over ideals of what is right, who is better, who gets to rule, and so on. But this article is to tell a tale of a much stranger conflict. This conflict is about a specific place that either person in these communities knows about and goes to every day. To support. To have fun. This is a conflict over whose convenience store is the best! Wait? What?
So, what is this “convenience store conflict” precisely? Here are the contenders. On one side we have the convenience store chain Wawa. On the other side, we have Sheetz. Both of them are convenience stores, food markets and gas stations. Both are located in Pennsylvania, although they are located in several other states. These stores are loved by their customers and have good followings. They have new locations popping up everywhere (sorta). But, what’s the difference that’s driving this debate? The answer can be seen simply as preference to a specific store. While I think this is a good answer, I think there’s a deeper answer that lies within people, regions and identity. Like a battlefield, the two sides of this conflict are from two different places. Each hold separate identities, and want to win. But still, what does this all mean? Let’s dive deeper into this unique Pennsylvania conflict. I can help set up some context for you.
Our first contender is the convenience store Wawa. Known as the “store with a funny name” due to the location of its headquarters. The convenience store chain is a familiar sight in several states on the east coast, especially in the lower southeastern region of Pennsylvania. Many will comment on the sheer number of these stores. Even on the same street, just miles apart from each other. As people drive in to the gas station parking lot, many will recognize the Wawa building for its apricot, gray and white colors. Often accompanied by red accents. Usually stores have the same shape. A tall raised entrance front adorns the company logo that then lowers to the typical square building base. As you walk in, you’re greeted by a simple and mundane interior, with tiled walls, stone face support beams and the brown “wood” faced service area/counter that stands out against the other interior features of the store.
Along with being a convenience store and a gas station, the store also others an array of comestible items made on site. The more famous of these products, include their soft pretzels, hoagies, mac and cheese, hash browns, quesadillas and their thanksgiving exclusive Gobbler sandwich. Their coffee, store brand juices and frozen cappuccino are also popular drink items found at their stores.
Our other contender is the convenience store Sheetz. Named after the companies founder. The convenience store chain is also a familiar sight in a couple states on the East Coast (but more towards the country’s interior). The store is very predominant in the western and northeastern parts of Pennsylvania. Numerous in its locations and distances from each store as well. People who usually come to the store are greeted by the iconic bright red colors that adorn the gas pumps and the store itself. Especially with its brick faced walls all around. The entrance, often located on one of the corners of the otherwise square building. Walking inside, you can expect to be greeted by an array of bright colors that range from green to blue to orange. With the store’s logo painted onto many parts of the store’s walls. The food service counter either blending in with the bright colors or standing out with similar fake wood faces adorning the counter.
Sheetz also boosts a large selection of food products made on site to order. These items include walking tacos, onion rings, jalapeño bites, tater tots, popcorn chicken, loaded fries/fryz and loaded tots/totz. The stores also have a Beer Cave. A refrigerated section of the store that is there to sell alcohol products.
Wawa and Sheetz. Despite both being convenience stores that serve the same functions and services as any other, food market and gas station are pretty different. Not just because of the difference in building aesthetics or the types of food that they serve, but where these stores are located. As mentioned before, Wawa is only located in the southeast region of Pennsylvania, while Sheetz dominates the west and northwest region of Pennsylvania exclusively. As a result of this division, both stores have built up strong fan bases in those areas. The people who are aware of both stores’ existence will strongly side with their region’s store and will advocate for whose store is better. Because of these bonds, it becomes important for one of these stores to be the definitive superior. A culture is created around these stores and even merges with the region’s culture itself. Much as how, a culture is formed between those who live in Pennsylvania’s southeast region and Pennsylvania’s northwest region. Wawa and Sheetz are now an important part of each of those regions’ communities that must be loved, supported and protected.
A good example of this is through a poll I held with several students at my university to see whether the students preferred Wawa or Sheetz. There was also an “other option” available for a student to list what other convenience store they liked better than the two. My idea behind the poll was that since Arcadia University (the college that I attend) has a majority of students from or living in Pennsylvania, the students would know about either Wawa or Sheetz and would knowingly have a preference for one of these stores. When the polls concluded, a majority of the votes went to Wawa. While Sheetz and “other” lacked far behind. This showed that a majority of the students at my school preferred Wawa other Sheetz. When questioning some students, some answers for the Wawa preference came down to either the quality of the food or that Wawa was the only location available. Plus, there was more availability compared to Sheetz. So perhaps if I held this same poll at say Indiana University of Pennsylvania, there would be a stronger vote and voice for Sheetz rather than Wawa.
Fans of either Wawa or Sheetz can explain to you in some detail why they prefer one or the other. Fans will say that their store provides the best food and/or the best service. Supporters will say how their store might have contributed to their community through charity or event works. Some fans might even how some personal story related to the store that they visit regularly. But even those who have never visited the opposite store will stringy voice their favoritism for their region’s store and indifference or hatred for the opposition store. It’s not about what the store provides, but what it stands for as their neighborhoods go to convenience store, food market, gas station place. But at the same time, considering the hold Wawa and Sheetz have in their selective regions, maybe both stores and their customers could benefit from having either of these convenience stores in their regions.
