Broad and Walnut Wawa update...from Rome

When you have three hours to kill waiting for Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square, you get to know the people you're there with. I chatted up the president of Wawa Inc., Chris Gheysens  who told me the Wawa going up at Broad and Walnut should be done by mid-September (just in time for Pope Francis to get a shorti!).

Gheysens is one of the 35 delegates in Rome - Wawa is a major corporate sponsor of the event and will also be donating all the food for volunteers and more than one million water bottles to attendees on the parkway.

He said the new store would feature a make-your-own salad option and a make-your-own smoothie selection (with fresh fruit). The store will also pilot an artisan made-to order coffee counter, though the traditional coffee bar will also remain, he said.

As for whether Rome's paninis have inspired Gheysens, he said yesterday he hadn't tried one yet but gave me his favorite at home: turkey, veggies and ranch dressing.

Now back to Pope coverage…