Friday, August 12, was the grand opening of a new Wawa on Route 70. The grand opening event took place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The new Wawa managers and staff, as well as regional and national Wawa executives, attended.

There is a hoagie-making competition at the opening of every Wawa, and Friday, students from Cherry Hill East and Cherry Hill West competed. The competitors from East were Adam Rosenthal (’12), Andrew Adler (’13), Becca Mulberg (’12), Greg Weinstock (’13), and Harrison Kim (’12).

The new Wawa’s general manager, Michelle, said that usually the hoagie making competitions are between policemen and firemen. “I saw that this community has a lot of kids, and I wanted to do something to include everyone,” she said.

Prior to the competition at 10:30, both teams said that they felt confident that they would win. The East students won by boxing a total of 51 hoagies, while West boxed 43.

Wawa gave the winners of the hoagie-making competition $1000 for their choice charity, and the runners-up got $500 for their choice charity. Both teams chose to give the money to the Cherry Hill Education Foundation. The money will most likely be used for grants to give better opportunities to both teachers and students.

After the opening ceremonies—which included a dance competition, the chicken dance, a performance by East’s Jazz Standards and a group picture—the hoagie-making competition was held.

According to Derek Jones, a Field Merchandising Coordinator for Wawa, the Wawa Company purchased the plot of land ten years ago. However, the Wawa Company needed township approval before beginning construction.

“There are a lot of permits and things that you need to get before you can start building,” Jones said. “I think it’ll be busy because it’s right down the street from the highway.”