Jeanne Clement called it "a tragedy for the city of Cape May." Clement said she only gets a half-hour for lunch, and the Wawa has become a community gathering place for workers on this side of town.

At the checkout line customers could read a letter from Howard B. Stoeckel, the the CEO of the convenience store chain that started in Pennsylvania and now also operates in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The letter said Wawa is renovating, expanding and relocating older stores to bring them up to date, but some locations simply don't meet the business plans to support the growing product Wawa is offering.

"Closing this store is bittersweet. While we look forward to the future, it is difficult for all of us to say goodbye to the many friends we have come to know over the years," Stoeckel wrote.

Lori Bruce, the public relations manager for Wawa, said about 10 to 12 older Wawas are being closed every year in the five-state region as the company that started as a dairy in 1902 seeks to improve. She noted new stores are also being opened with "significant investment" in Cape May County the past five years. Many of the new stores are larger and have gasoline. Wawa is starting to serve dinners to go. The firm is even test-modeling a system in Pennsylvania through which orders can be placed on the Internet, or text messaged, and customers then come in to pick up the order. They don't have to wait in line. They can even pay on the Internet.

"You constantly have to reinvent yourselves and stay relevant to your customers," Bruce said.

Workers have been offered jobs at other locations. While rumors swirl about the buildings being turned into restaurants, bakeries or other convenience store chains, the towns have yet to see any plans for new uses. Workers at the Diamond Beach Wawa, which was open for the last day Monday, said they heard the building was for sale.

Bruce talked in general terms about such closings but said it is not necessarily specific to these three stores. Bruce said sometimes the buildings or the lots they sit on are too small or can't handle some of the company's newer products or technology. Another problem can be a shortage of parking, which she said is the biggest complaint Wawa gets. She said sometimes Wawa simply renovates a store, but in some cases there are too many issues. Wawa also looks at the performance of each store.

"Times change and we change with them," Bruce said.

Some customers are hoping the change at least includes another place to get food.

"I 'd be happy if they put a Dunkin' Donuts in where you could get coffee and pastries," said Janet Gomes as she entered the Bank Street Wawa.

E-mail Richard Degener:

RDegener@pressofac.com