Wawa at Pole Tavern Closes for Demolition

A Wawa at Pole Tavern in Upper Pittsgrove shut its doors Tuesday. Demolition starts soon. The chain plans to build a bigger spot with fuel pumps where the old one stood.

According to NJ.com, workers posted a sign in the window telling customers about Tuesday's closing. This marks the finish for a shop that sat at Routes 40 and 77 near the Pole Tavern traffic circle in Salem County, serving drivers there for years — decades, in fact.

The replacement will sprawl across nearly 6,000 square feet, a company spokesperson confirmed. Doors should swing open by early autumn.

Gas pumps will appear at the new site, along with updated interior layouts. The old spot sold snacks and coffee but never dispensed gasoline.

Plans for this rebuild kicked off more than a year back. Approvals came through in early 2025, clearing the path before workers turned the locks one final time.

The Pole Tavern circle sees plenty of action. Routes 40 and 77 meet there, and cars zip through from morning until night, making it one of Salem County's busier crossroads.

Wrecking crews arrive within weeks. After they clear the lot, builders will raise the new structure on that same patch of ground.

Jumping from the old footprint to almost 6,000 square feet means more room inside. Adding fuel pumps brings this location in step with newer Wawa models that pair food counters with gas islands.

Fall gives contractors a window of several months. Exact opening day depends on how fast work moves and what the weather does.

Upper Pittsgrove locals and pass-through drivers who counted on this stop will have to find other options until the fresh building opens. No word yet on whether any temporary setup will fill the gap during construction.