Wawa Threatens to Stop Expansion in Philly over Proposed Tobacco Regulations

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Wawa in Center City
Photo courtesy of Thom Carroll, PhillyVoice.com.

Wawa has said it might put a stop to its aggressive expansion in Center City if the proposed regulations on retailing tobacco are passed, writes Natalie Kostelni for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Numerous other businesses that sell cigarettes and various tobacco products are worried that the new regulations currently under consideration would both hurt their revenues and affect the value of their businesses.

The health department is proposing to increase tobacco permit and renewal fees to $300 from $50. In addition, it will limit the number of tobacco-selling permits, suspend them for a year for retailers caught selling tobacco to a minor three times within two years, and restrict tobacco retailers from operating within 500 feet of a K-12 school.

Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s President and CEO, addressed the Health Department with a letter in October, stating that the proposed regulations require more clarity.

“If finalized as written, the proposed regulation would negatively affect economic growth within the city of Philadelphia, specifically it would stop all future Wawa store growth,” he wrote.

Read more about the issue in the Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.

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