Wait, Are We Pronouncing “Wawa” Wrong?
I hate to break this news on one of our area’s favorite convenience stores, but it seems to me that we’re pronouncing the name, “Wawa” incorrectly. As I mentioned on the show today, I’ve never questioned how we pronounce the name. However, today I wondered to myself, “Where on earth did that name originate?” Why is it called Wawa? And the answer to that question put me on a quick internet rabbit hole that might change how I hear the name in my head.
Don’t get me wrong here. If the corporate peeps pronounce it one way… then that’s the way it’s pronounced. Wawa. Every time I hear an ad on the radio for them they pronounce it, “Wah-Wah”. Ok, no problem by me. That’s all good. I love everything about Wawa so they could call it pretty much anything and I’d go along with it.
However, as you may already know, the name Wawa wasn’t a part of the English language before the company launched the name. Not like some of the other convenience stores around here like 7-11 or Quick Check. Those names, while unique, aren’t as original as Wawa, so where did the name Wawa come from?
Why It’s Called Wawa
Here’s a fun fact about one of our favorite convenience stores: The place started as a dairy farm in Western Pennsylvania and then grew into a milk delivery company. The old-school milk man! After a while, they opened a retail place and that was the real beginning of “Wawa”. The name was pulled from what the local indigenous people called the area. The local tribe was the Oijbe (oh-JIB-way). They called the area “we’we”. In their Oijbe language, we’we means “snow goose”.
How It Is Pronounced
As I said above, if they want to pronounce it “Wah Wah” that’s just fine by me. But get this for one sec: The local indigenous people of the Oijbe tribe pronounced it differently. They pronounced it, “Way-Way”.
“The chain’s name comes from the site of the company’s first milk plant and corporate headquarters in the Wawa, Pennsylvania area. The name of the town Wawa is in turn derived from the Ojibwe word we’we (pronounced “way-way”) meaning snow goose.” -Wikipedia
So, does this mean the next time I pull into a Wawa I’m going to be thinking, “Way Way”? Maybe! LOL!
What's Your Wawa Weakness? A List Of New Jersey's Must Have Menu Items From Wawa
I had never heard of Wawa until I arrived in New Jersey In September of 1996.
The way locals talked about the place, you’d think it was some sort of magical kingdom.
What is so great about this convenience store? I knew mostly from 7-11 back home on Long Island, and a few of the Speedy Mart places attached to gas stations. We didn’t have Quik Chek back home either. Long Island needs to step up it’s game.
My brother, who still lives on Long Island, has been to a few Wawa locations on his trips down to South Jersey. It took one or 2 trips for him to “Get it.”
,
I didn’t really catch on until living in Jersey for a few months. I was slow on the uptake. I can hear the blonde jokes heading my way. Just be relieved I finally know why people love Wawa.
Wawa coffee is my liquid gold. I don’t buy it every morning, but I do buy it often. The Cuban Roast is my favorite. A hearty dark brew will only do.
I used to get the flavored coffees back in the day, but they just didn’t satisfy my desire for a rich dark roast.
When it comes to Wawa food choices, I have several favorites. The Napa chicken salad with dried cranberries and walnuts is near the top of my list. It tastes like I made it myself. They also have a grilled chicken salad that I like.
The soups, especially the cream of broccoli, are very good and not too salty. I hate oversalted soups, gross.
Wawa also has a secret menu. According to Wikihow, You can access Wawa’s secret menu, by approaching the touchscreen kiosk in the store, then click on the goose icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Most of Wawa’s secret menu items are seasonal, meaning you can only order them during certain months.
Check out Wawa’s app and website for their current promotions on secret and official menu items.
The inspiration for this article came from a post from Dane DeMarco, from Audubon, New Jersey, asking foodie folks, “What’s Your Wawa Weakness.”
Thanks Dane, this has crossed my mind as well.
Let’s find out which items on Wawa’s menu, Jersey folks have a weakness for.
Wawa Fries -Customized
When Carl is not working at the greatest rock radio station known to mankind; a station known around the globe; a station that has the best music, co-workers, advertisers and most importantly THE BEST F'N LISTENERS you may find me doing any one of the following: Riding or making mountain bike trails. playing with his kids. playing sand volleyball on 5th Ave, cooking amazing food, including on his sweet smoker grill, going to concerts, swimming in the ocean, going to amusement parks with his kids, and other stuff that rocks!
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