Wawa — Restaurant in West Sadsbury Township

This was my first Wawa experience, as told by a Sheetz regular.

Upon entering, the whole aesthetic of Wawa was “light and bright,” giving the place a space age glow. I first visited the restroom, which was very clean! I liked that they had a machine with a lever to disperse the toilet seat cover. I disliked that they had a loud hand blow dryer- paper towels are the way to go. The bathroom was a nice two-staller, the worst part about it was that the music was just too loud in there.

Moving on, the snack selection has generally has less offerings than Sheetz, but more variety in the products they do stock. I believe I saw cheddar stuffed Bugles in there, when I have never seen a Bugle flavor other than the regular. They also had XL 16 piece Hershey bars, which is another variety I’d never seen before. I did expect there to be more Hershey products, being so close to Hershey! For what Wawa lacks in snacks, it makes up for in energy drinks. Holy cow! They had a whole wall of just energy drinks. I thought it was odd that they had the lottery machine interested into the snack aisles.

The coffee bar was so physically large that it was excessive. In fairness, I haven’t witnessed this Wawa during the morning rush, but I don’t see how the set-up is going to help anyone get through faster. It’s hard to see into all those little black bins, and they’re not labeled. There is seemingly no order to how everything at the coffee bar is arranged. The height of the bins isn’t helpful either, it’s inconvenient to have to reach and search that high. I did like that they had the quarts of milk in a cooler. That is much better than having to open and pour 4 miniature creamers into a coffee.

A general note is that I wished more things were visibly priced. The coffee cups were not, but I’m happy to report that a 24 ounce hot coffee is $2.59. Prices also were very clear on the food ordering tablet either. I noticed it didn’t give you a final total before you pressed “Print and order.”

The ordering tablet program was lacking overall. I had to click every option on the home screen to get an idea of what food they had. For example, there was a dinner section. That could be anything. I think making more of these home categories and adding big pictures would help. There are also less nit picky customizable options than Sheetz has, in my opinion.

It’s so interesting that they offer soup! I would like to try it someday. I think the amount of mac n’ cheese varieties is fun as well. Their food is sorely lacking in the finger food category. I saw that they sometimes have mozzarella sticks under a heat lamp by the self checkout, but they were out! If I’m going to a gas station “restaurant,” all I want to eat are appetizers, and Wawa just don’t got ‘em. As a vegetarian, that is my main meal when I go to Sheetz: mac bites, mozz sticks, tater tots.

The ordering window here doesn’t seem to be a good setup. I don’t know how to improve it, but it just doesn’t feel like it’s as efficient as it could be. It also appears that you need to pay for condiments? That’s crazy.

My only real complaint about this Wawa is that there was an army of workers, yet the food was coming out slow as molasses. What are all yinz doing back there? Pick up the pace a little, geesh. Maybe the Lancasterians are just all Very patient people.

I also expected to be able to get some good local milk or cheese here given the proximity to the Amish. Why does Wawa not support the local farmers? I know I’ve seen Pittsburgh’s local dairy, Turner’s, at Sheetz.

My overall conclusion is that Wawa has better infrastructure (brand aesthetic excluding the digital ordering menu, building aesthetic/flow minus the coffee bar, very nice & clean bathroom), while Sheetz has better food. Period. With only slight bias, I pronounce Sheetz to be the better chain because...

Just wanted to post an update. Was here again and to reinforce what I said earlier .. TOTAL ANARCHY in the parking lot! I don't know what it is about THIS Wawa but people just completely lose their mind in the parking lot! I was pulling in .... headed to a parking spot on the side of the building, and a lady who was parked ALL the way over by the gas pumps at a dead stop puts her vehicle into drive and is driving towards me as I am TURNING to park and she tries to drive AROUND me WHILE I am parking, in the direction I am headed! She literally tried to drive through the parking spaces I was parking in to go around me while I was parking. There was so much space, time, and room for her to stay in the travel lane it doesn't make any sense. While I can't hold this against Wawa for another customer driving like an idiot ... this is a CONSTANT thing at this location. Literally when I walked out after getting my food there were two cars in a blowing horns fight. Every single time I come here the parking lot is Chaos. CHAOS I SAY! Total Mad Max Fury Road type stuff.

Also in addition to this update I'd like to say my chicken cheesesteak was good but very lacking in chicken, I think they shorted me big time on it. Get your act together Parkesburg Wawa.

This is a very busy Wawa at most times of the day, like most Wawa stores are, but you have to be very careful in the parking lot! For some reason people just lose all sense of driving etiquette in this parking lot and it is very easy to get into a fender bender here as it becomes total driving and parking anarchy. Otherwise ... good Hoagies, Good Tea, Good milk, just...

I'm a commercial truck driver like the location and with that said it's convenient. If there's an opening for parking my tractor for a quick break. It's exactly what the doctor order, i.e. use the facilities, then grab a coffee or cold drink.

Then be on my way and not hog a parking space for to long, so other's can do what I've just done, and extending courtesy to a follow driver.

Now everyone; Wawa food and snack choices are some of the best going. Hot or cold sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, and salads, you have a great selection from the "food pyramid" for those Savvy enough to understand what I just said.

You won't go wrong stopping in a Wawa, unlike some fast food sandwich places. They seem to keep the sodium down to a minimum but please don't quote me on that one, not trying to sale the other outfit short.

Hope what I just provided helps you travelers that I share the road along with some good advise. So stay tuned for another Arni Shook Signature Series Seal of Approval hope that made you smile...