MILLVILLE, N.J. -- Kirk Andrus, 68, has been a patron of the Wawa convenience store in Millville, N.J., since it opened 40 years ago, and was recognized as one of the store's top 10 customers as the company held a "Wawaversary" for the store last week, reported
The Daily Journal. The ceremony also served as the announcement for the donation of the Wood family mansion to the Millville Historical Society. Wawa also donated $20,000 to the society for maintenance of the old building.
The Wood family, which founded Wawa, has roots in the city as far back as the early 1800s, as family members operated mills and manufacturing companies, according to Wawa historian Maria Thompson.
Bob Francois, president of the historical society, said the organization hopes to open the mansion, which used to be the society's headquarters, to the public in the spring. The mansion will be used as the society's museum and the Millville Bank will be used as the group's research library, he said.
"The museum will help us tell the story of Millville's great industrial past to future generations," he told the newspaper.
Demolition crews recently tore down two buildings surrounding Wawa's site, said the report. But David Johnston, Wawa chief operating officer, said there are no plans in the near future to expand or renovate the building. Johnston said the buildings were demolished to improve the site's appearance.
Johnston said the store's 40th anniversary is noteworthy since there are only a handful of the company's 329 locations dating back that far. Johnston said the oldest is a 45-year-old store in Folsom, Pa.
"This store is right up there with that," he told the paper. "This is a big deal."
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