Strange things are afoot at the Circle K

[word_geek]

This is not quite a Pointless College Story. It's really more like half a story, half a random thought. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, we have a chain of convenience stores called Wawa, named after the town where it was founded. It's pronounced just like you think it would be, and it's a remarkably stupid name if you think about it, but it

Comments

[ohsochewy]

"Wawa" is my mom's family nickname (she is the eldest of 9, who presumably couldn't immediately pronounce "Sarah").

I was always confused by the quasi-"natural" image they seem to have tried to project with the birds or whatever on the sign. You're basically a brown-and-yellow 7-11, guys. Deal.

[word_geek]

Well, the goose on the sign has been there since the beginning, so I can confirm that it's not an attempt at Green branding. According to the company website, "wawa" is a native term meaning "goose," from which the town derived its name. Wawa's parent company is Wild Goose Holding Co., so at least they're consistent, and lord knows we've got enough wild geese around these parts. Of course, when I see a bunch of geese around, my first thought is usually, "Watch where you step," not exactly the image I want in mind when I want to grab a Snapple.

[fluffiana]

One of my professors in freshman year explained that Wawa is the sound a goose makes (put the accent on the second syllable), so it's an extremely reasonable onomatopoeic native term. After that, I never thought twice about it.

My local grocery store growing up was called Alpha Beta. In retrospect, that seems a more unlikely name to me than Wawa.

[_kent]

There used to be a convenience store chain in the UK called "Wavy Line". Their logo was a wavy line. Here's a decayed example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgbalancesrocks/162661864/

[my_tallest]

If you reflect on it, Seven Eleven is a bizarre name. They got us all used to it, but at least Wawa, Lil' Sue, Tedishi, etc are names.

Up until Star Markets took over Store24, we used to have the fun of always saying, "Store 24... open 24 hours... just not in a row."

[malabranca]

Well, 7-11 used to be the hours the stores were open. So yes, strange, but descriptive.

the winner

[hells_satans]

Wawa can't be topped imo.

Re: the winner

[jacquilynne]

I dunno, I have to give a little running room to the Kum&Go and the Couche-Tard.

[captain_squid]

Anyone remember the scene in "The Miracle Worker" where Anne and Helen are at the water pump? I still pronounce Wawa like that.