Wawa signs big lease at East Market

Because Philly can never have enough of them, another Wawa is setting up shop in Center City, this time at the East Market mixed-use development.

Wawa and National Real Estate Development announced this morning that the local food market has signed a 6,196-square-foot lease in East Market’s second tower located at 1199 Ludlow Street. The ground-floor store will be located at the corner of 12th and Market, complete with a huge digital hoagie sign above.

Wawa’s CEO and president Chris Gheysens said the 6,200-square-foot store will serve as a place to experiment with the company’s newer features that aren’t offered in other locations. He mentioned that the location will have seating, a built-to-order salad line, and a bakery line.

There was also talk at the announcement of testing a delivery system for future residents at 1199 Ludlow Street and The Ludlow next door. “We will be doing some delivery tests,” Gheysens suggested. “I can’t imagine why this shouldn’t be the first building where you can go on your Wawa app and have delivery if you live in one of these buildings.”

“I can’t promise that,” he added, “but we’ll figure something out.”

Photos by Melissa Romero

Top left: Pedestrians will be able to access Chestnut Walk between the two East Market towers. Top right: The 1199 Ludlow tower is currently two-stories tall. Bottom: The Ludlow is set to finish construction in a few months.

Wawa is the second tenant to sign onto 1199 Ludlow Street, joining Iron Hill Brewery, which signed a 8,450-square-foot lease at the other corner of the building earlier this year. The upper levels of the 20-story tower will have 240 residential units geared toward young professionals and families.

“This stretch of Market Street has great history in retail,” said National Development managing director Daniel Killinger. “We want to bring that active, retail vibrancy back to Market Street but in a very modern, Philadelphia way, and Wawa is a key piece to making that transformation happen.”

Wawa at East Market opens in spring 2018 (“Maybe sooner,” said Gheysens). It’s also announced two other locations at 13th and Chestnut and on South Street.