Wawa has received approval to open a store in Deerfield Beach, Fla., writes Elizabeth Roberts for the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The approval comes five years after the Delaware County-based chain moved into Florida, and only five weeks after breaking ground on its first two stores in South Florida.

This expansion is part of the company’s plans to open dozens of stores throughout the state over the next five years.

Wawa stands from the sea of convenience stores, offering heat-lamp-hardened sandwiches by offering its customers various custom-made subs that can be self-ordered on computer terminals.

Wawa is not only loved by its customers, but by its employees as well. The company offers a benefit package containing options rarely offered to convenience store workers, including an employee stock ownership plan and medical coverage with dental.

Wawa broke ground on stores in Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach in July. But the Deerfield store took longer to get approval.

“I am so excited about Wawa,” said Deerfield resident Katy Freitag.

“Those of us from Philadelphia,” said Mayor Jean Robb, “we love Wawa.”

Read more and watch a video about the upcoming store in the South Florida Sun Sentinel by clicking here.