Wawa will close two of its locations in Philly citing ‘safety and security challenges’ after flash mobs ransacked the stores.
Surveillance video of Wawa being looted was released by law enforcement late last month.
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Additional footage of the flash mob from the outside of the convenience store was also released.
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Wawa closed two of its Philly stores because of the non-stop looting.
The convenience store chain tried closing the stores early to ward of flash mobs, but it didn’t work.
“Despite reducing hours and investing in additional operational measures, continued safety and security challenges and business factors have made it increasingly difficult to remain open in these two locations,” the company said in a statement. “All associates from these two stores will be offered continued employment at Wawa. These two closures do not necessarily impact or limit potential for future stores in Philadelphia County.”
NBC Philadelphia reported:
Two of Wawa’s downtown Philadelphia stores will be shuttered as the Delaware County-based chain continues “to be focused on doing everything we can to monitor and work with local authorities to address challenges impacting operations in any other stores,” the company announced.
The convenience stores to be closed in Center City are located at 12th and Market streets and 19th and Market streets.
Customers NBC10 spoke to had a hard time when they heard the news.
“Is there any way we can get a petition and try to get it open still? That’s crazy man,” Tyrone Suters said outside one of the Market Street locations.
The announcement comes two days after City Councilman Mike Driscoll told business leaders at a public forum in Northeast Philadelphia that Wawa officials were considering halting new store openings in Philadelphia amid rising crime and lawlessness in the city, according to a report published by the Philadelphia Business Journal.