The Connelly Center has been a central hub for students at Villanova since it opened in 1980. Conn holds this status for a multitude of reasons, ranging from its central location to the various dining and hangout options for students to explore. From Belle Air Terrace to a refreshing acai bowl from Smoothitas, Conn has become a well-loved spot for all Villanova students. One thing has been rumored to change, however.
If true, these locations will soon part ways with the Connelly Center and pave the way for a newly constructed Wawa that will take up the majority of the Connelly Center’s ground floor. Although an official email has not been sent regarding this change, students who work in the Connelly Center have claimed they were asked to fill out a form indicating other spots on campus to which they would wish to switch for work.
A Wawa location on campus will serve the student body well for various reasons. One thing that sets Villanova apart from many other college campuses, is the fact that it doesn’t have any “name-brand” spots to grab food, such as Starbucks or Chick-Fil-A.
If Wawa were officially introduced, it could pave way for a new era at Villanova where even more famous chains are included on campus.
In addition, Wawa sells a very large variety of items. The reason Wawa will be able to replace the convenience store and food locations within Conn is that it already functions as a full convenience store, in addition to the multitude of food items that it prepares and sells ready-to-go. The Wawa at Villanova could replace Smoothitas with its ice cream station and replace the convenience store with its traditional selection of items.
There have been a few aspects of the possible new Wawa that have received pushback, however. The first is the fact that if Wawa does come to Villanova’s campus, students will not be able to work there. Instead, Wawa employees will take over the location in order to operate it in the same manner other ones already do.
Since the Connelly Center has a variety of locations where students work, all those students are now forced to relocate to other spots on campus which may create an oversupply of workers for those spots.
Students have also expressed confusion over how the current meal plans will fit into the Wawa. Although there is a high chance that students will be able to use points at the location, many students believe the Wawa wouldn’t be worth it if they will only have the option of using either Nova Bucks or their own money. The elimination of meal points as a payment option that is currently accepted in the Conn convenience store, could cause pushback.
Although these concerns are understandable, the benefits of a Wawa location on campus outweigh the cons. If a Wawa is officially introduced, it will reflect Villanova’s plan to improve and modernize the campus, which has been highlighted in many other new additions made this year.
In addition, it may cause a ripple effect that opens even more chains on campus for students to enjoy.
While this change comes with uncertainty, the potential arrival of Wawa at the heart of campus signals a broader shift toward modernization and convenience at Villanova. The replacement of Conn’s familiar favorites may be bittersweet, especially for students who cherish these spaces or rely on them for campus jobs. However, the addition of Wawa could enhance the student experience in new ways.
As the Villanova community awaits official confirmation, it’s clear the Connelly Center’s central role on campus is evolving, and with it, so too is the future of student life.
