Why were Philadelphia expatriates so elated at the arrival of Wawas in Florida? Sure, the convenience chain is well-run, it treats its employees well, the stores are spacious and attractive, but, well, it’s just a convenience chain, right? Maybe it’s the cool push-button sandwich-ordering thingy — it’s brilliant! — or even the sandwiches themselves, almost as good as Publix hoagies, er, subs. But no, the real reason, which brought back a Proustian rush of taste memories to one recent visitor to the Gandy Blvd. Wawa in Pinellas Park: the wall of Tastykakes! Well, not a wall exactly, but shelf upon shelf devoted entirely to the best little packaged dessert pies and cakes ever. Peanut butter-and-chocolate Kandykakes, we missed you more than we knew! 3101 Gandy Blvd., Pinellas Park, 727-576-1804. wawa.com.
This article appears in Sep 19-25, 2013.