WaWa opens, but delays taco, hoagie service

Students hoping to satisfy their appetites for tacos, hoagies, pizza and espresso will have to wait two days more before the WaWa Food Market at 38th and Spruce streets offers them, Store Manager Joe Gallagher said yesterday. While the market, itself, did open as scheduled yesterday after being closed for three weeks, the newly installed Pizza Hut and espresso bar, along with the Taco Bell and Hoagie Express did not. "Unforeseeable conditions," have prevented the entire complex from being ready until tomorrow, Gallagher said. While part of the WaWa did open on time, some customers and workers say a closed WaWa is better than a half-opened one. "I thought they should have waited," said Errick Graham, associate leader of the Spruce Street WaWa. "They should have opened it all up at once." The remodeled WaWa, which has not been renovated since it was built in 1986, has new paint, lights, counters, and a new layout. "It's much more open and visible," said one WaWa cashier. "It's just better." Students had mixed opinions about the new setup. "It reminds me of a gas station," College freshman Michael Gross said, pointing to the green and yellow paint which runs along the walls. "It's lost the neighborhood touch," College senior Ethan Fellheimer said. "It feels more like the CVS than the WaWa." Fellheimer added that he thinks the new additions will not make the WaWa any better. Other students disagreed, though, and were optimistic about the new and improved store. "I'm waiting for the full effect," Wharton junior Kerri Korkin said. "It's so bright and big-seeming," College freshman Stephanie Nussbaum said. "Now you don't have to bump into people in the aisles." According to Gallagher, the new WaWa will be more efficient. "There will be separate stations for each part of the store and less lines," he said. "You'll be getting in and out of here quicker." Graham said, however, he thinks the location of the cash registers might cause problems for the stores. "I think the register is too close to the door," he said. "It could pose problems with security because people can easily see inside." Despite these concerns, Gallagher said he anticipates a "better" WaWa once the renovations are complete. "It's nice and bright and cheerful now," he said. "I just think people will like it better and business will improve too," Gallagher added.