2008 Woodie Awards
Jason's Deli to replace Wawa
Brady Holt
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
A Jason's Deli restaurant will open this fall in place of Wawa's former storefront downtown, owners of the College Park Shopping Center announced yesterday.
Jason's Deli is a Texas-based fast casual restaurant whose online menu shows a variety of wraps and sandwiches priced from $5.29, as well as pastas, soups and salads. The chain's website also says that they offer dine-in, take-out and delivery services, but company spokespeople could not be reached for comment yesterday on what was planned for College Park.
The chain does not yet have any other locations in Maryland; the nearest outlet to the campus is in Richmond, Va., nearly 100 miles away. It has about 170 other company-owned and franchised outlets nationwide, a press release from JBG Rosenfeld Retail said.
"Last September, we made a commitment to the students of the University of Maryland and the greater College Park community that we would find a new, dynamic tenant for the former Wawa space, and this lease with Jason's Deli is confirmation of that commitment," JBGR Executive Vice President Bob Schwenger said in a company news release.
College Park economic development coordinator Chris Warren said in an e-mail that JBGR had told the city a month ago that they were in negotiations with a deli, but that he had not been told which one. He said he didn't know enough about Jason's Deli to say what it would bring to the city, but "for downtown it means one less vacancy."
While District 4 Councilwoman Mary Cook, who frequently complains about the lack of variety of College Park's businesses, said she was happy to see the storefront filled, she said she wasn't sure there would be enough business for Jason's Deli in the crowded student-oriented food market.
"Really, do we need another sandwich place?" she asked. "I think it's kind of crazy."
Cook said she expected downtown's character to change over the next few years, as the proposed East Campus development and council initiatives encourage small independent businesses. But for now, she said she's willing to deal with the new restaurant.
Jason's Deli is a Texas-based fast casual restaurant whose online menu shows a variety of wraps and sandwiches priced from $5.29, as well as pastas, soups and salads. The chain's website also says that they offer dine-in, take-out and delivery services, but company spokespeople could not be reached for comment yesterday on what was planned for College Park.
The chain does not yet have any other locations in Maryland; the nearest outlet to the campus is in Richmond, Va., nearly 100 miles away. It has about 170 other company-owned and franchised outlets nationwide, a press release from JBG Rosenfeld Retail said.
"Last September, we made a commitment to the students of the University of Maryland and the greater College Park community that we would find a new, dynamic tenant for the former Wawa space, and this lease with Jason's Deli is confirmation of that commitment," JBGR Executive Vice President Bob Schwenger said in a company news release.
College Park economic development coordinator Chris Warren said in an e-mail that JBGR had told the city a month ago that they were in negotiations with a deli, but that he had not been told which one. He said he didn't know enough about Jason's Deli to say what it would bring to the city, but "for downtown it means one less vacancy."
While District 4 Councilwoman Mary Cook, who frequently complains about the lack of variety of College Park's businesses, said she was happy to see the storefront filled, she said she wasn't sure there would be enough business for Jason's Deli in the crowded student-oriented food market.
"Really, do we need another sandwich place?" she asked. "I think it's kind of crazy."
Cook said she expected downtown's character to change over the next few years, as the proposed East Campus development and council initiatives encourage small independent businesses. But for now, she said she's willing to deal with the new restaurant.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Not another Sandwich place
posted 4/08/08 @ 9:45 AM EST
ANOTHER SANDWICH PLACE? Seriously, we don't need another sandwich place in College Park, there are too many already
Marg Gy
posted 4/08/08 @ 10:42 AM EST
I agree with the Councilwoman about another sandwich place - Wawa was the closest thing to a grocery store in College Park, where students could walk to buy fresh produce, bread, milk, sodas and the like. (Continued…)
are you fucking serious
posted 4/08/08 @ 1:21 PM EST
i swear to god if I eat one more sandwich in this place i'm going to turn into one.
txterp
posted 4/08/08 @ 2:46 PM EST
i live in texas and went to maryland and jasons deli will blow all the others out of the water! it is awesome and has a huge salad bar also!
karen gillette
posted 4/08/08 @ 2:47 PM EST
Go to the website for Jason's Deli. It's not WAWA, but WAWA is gone, and Jason's looks pretty good.
Shawn
posted 4/08/08 @ 6:44 PM EST
Hmm, salad, sandwiches, pasta, etc. I would have preferred a cool ethnic restaurant, but this will be a neat addition I suppose.
Sample menu here: http://www. (Continued…)
Jeff Sheedy
posted 5/29/08 @ 9:05 PM EST
I have family in Texas as well and Jason's rocks! My grandma lives outside of Houston and we would go in the summer because they have ice cream which is free when you buy something. (Continued…)
la la la
posted 11/10/08 @ 6:24 PM EST
i went to a jason's deli once...placed smelled like farts...but the food was good!
Anthony
posted 11/11/08 @ 9:59 AM EST
I give Jason Deli a year or two before it closes its doors if Wawa couldn't stay open with the traffic it had I serious don't see another sandwich shop making it either. (Continued…)
Whoa
posted 11/11/08 @ 2:53 PM EST
I truly agree with almost EVERYONE in regards to another sandwich shop moving into downtown college park, but this menu looks legit. From the looks of it, we'd be better off if this place thrives and some other places shut down. (Continued…)
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