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Wawa President and CEO Chris Gheysens (left) with an employee.

(Photo courtesy of Wawa)

Not many people could probably name the very first Wawa in which they ever stepped foot, but Chris Gheysens can.

It was in his hometown of Vineland — the store on Main Road and Sherman Avenue, which closed permanently just last year.

And before anyone starts to think it a bit weird to remember one’s first time at Wawa, it should be noted Gheysens has an excuse — he’s the president and CEO of the company.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Wawa's first food market opening in Folsom, Pa., Gheysens said he remembers going with his father, who owned Cumberland Car Wash in Vineland, to visit "this brand new store with a name we never heard of before."

“My dad would have a bunch of change from the car wash, and he was like the banker for everyone over there at the Wawa,” said Gheysens, a graduate of both St. Mary’s in East Vineland and St. Augustine College Preparatory School. “South Jersey is a big part of Wawa, and it is definitely part of me — I grew up in Vineland, and my parents had a summer house in Sea Isle.

“I moved to Washington Township — or ‘Township’ as they call it — after marrying my wife, and we raised our four children there.”

Gheysens, who currently resides in Burlington County, will be spending Wednesday morning at Wawa’s very first store, which opened in 1964 in Folsom, Pa., for a ceremony at 6 a.m. Following that, he’ll be traveling to the store at 17th and Arch streets in Philadelphia, where Mayor Michael Nutter will declare April 16 to be henceforth Wawa Day.

Other festivities planned by the company for its semi-centennial include free coffee for customers at all locations and a private party for employees, business partners and invited guests at the National Constitution Center.

Wawa will also announce its new charitable arm — the Wawa Foundation — with plans to commit $50 million to causes related to “health, hunger and everyday heroes,” according to a statement from the company.

“The things we have planned, it’s how we’re saying thank you to our customers, as well as our 22,000 associates,” said Gheysens, 43, who joined the company in 1997, shortly after graduating from Villanova University. “There’s going to be a lot of fun and excitement all around.”

Part of that will be the celebration of the grand opening of 45 new stores.

Still, Gheysens calls it “unfortunate” that his very first hometown Wawa couldn’t survive.

“We re-invested in the big Wawa we have in Vineland — we’ve always had roots in the area, including manufacturing in Millville,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that store had to close — walking in there for the first time was one of my fondest memories.”

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Contact staff writer Jason Laday at 856-686-3628 or jladay@southjerseymedia.com.