Freakz For Sheetz
Those living outside of the East Coast mind not be aware of the great Gas Station Wars which are currently laying waste to Pennsylvania. Those on the Philly side of the state are gaga for Wawa, while Pittsburgers in the west are Sheetz Freaks. And that's without getting into Bucc-ees! Let's explore some of the reasons why Sheetz is superior.
1. The OG
Age may be just a number, but full-service gas stations owe everything to Sheetz. Not only did they combine fuel and food service almost 20 years before Wawa, but the first Sheetz opened 12 years before Wawa. Sheetz wouldn't have lasted as long if there wasn't customer demand.
2. Touch-Screen Menus
Sheetz isn't just the original name in the game, they're a pioneer. They first introduced touch screens into their made to order model (more on that later) in 1996, the earliest in the business. Even though touch screens are no longer a novelty, the tactile to delight almost 30 years later.
3. All-Day Breakfast
Breakfast shouldn't just be for early risers, and Sheetz understands that. Unlike Wawa, which only offers breakfast between 5 and 11 AM, breakfast is an all-day affair at Sheetz. Nothing hits after a long day of driving like warm french toast sticks or a perfectly toasted breakfast Shmagel.
4. Free ATMs
Okay, so Wawa offers free withdrawals too, but many other gas/convenience stores don't! ATM fees have never made sense to us. Why do we have to pay to withdraw our own money?
5. The Coffee Bar
Wawa started (and remains) a dairy, so it should stand that their coffee selection is better, if just for their milk and creamer. Wrong. Sheetz has a full espresso bar and high-quality machines that grind and brew beans rather than endless urns of pre-made java. And they have free coffee on Christmas and New Year's Day.
6. Fun Environment
When so many stores and logos are sacrificing personality for sterility, Sheetz is one of the last bastions of kitsch. Their stores are bright, the tunes are occasionally interrupted by silly puns, and everything is spelled with a z. Sheetz wants you to have fun without sending you into sensory overload.
7. Size Matters
Bigger isn't always better—see Bucc-ee's which does send you into sensory overload—but when it comes to store size, Sheetz has more space than Wawa. This is due in part to careful planning to accomodate for truckers. As a result, Sheetz not only includes a legendary beer cave, but also space to sit and eat.
8. Big Mozz
We don't want to be listing food items for the rest of these points, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the Big Mozz. A burger (beef or chicken) topped with provolone, mozzarella, marinara, and three—count 'em, 3—mozzarella sticks, the Big Mozz is one of Sheetz's top sellers. Healthy? Absolutely not. Delectable? Yes.
9. F'real Machines
Wawa used to have these convenience store mainstays that blend rock-solid milkshakes and smoothies into creamy delights, but they recently did away with them in favor of "real" milkshakes using Wawa dairy. You know who still has F'real shakes and smoothies? Sheetz.
10. Free My Beer Campaign
Sheetz was on the front line fighting to get Pennsylvania liquor laws changed. While other states had beer caves, the original stores in Pennsylvania had to settle for soda caves. Sheetz managed to get the law changed with the help of over 130,000 signatures.
11. Community Focus
Speaking of beer, Sheetz used the go-ahead to sell liquor to partner with local breweries. Since 2019, Sheetz has developed and sold multiple beers in collaboration with Pennsylvania breweries. Not only does this give more money to the breweries, it also gives customers a chance to support their local businesses while shopping at a chain.
Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) on Wikimedia
12. Pharmacy Area
We're not talking perscriptions here, but rather things like tums and wet wipes that may come in handy during a long drive. Because Sheetz has more space than Wawa, they have more room to stock CVS-type items.
13. Price
No gas station should be expensive, but Sheetz proves that you can be cheap without sacrificing quality. Sheetz offers enough options for a low enough price for road-tripping families to get everything they need without breaking the bank. Even those without a ton of spending money can still splurge on some treatz from Sheetz without feeling guilty.
Andre Carrotflower on Wikimedia
14. Variety
We're talking geographic rather than product-based variety. Wawa may have more stores in more states, but they're crammed in like sardines along the East Coast (with a few stragglers in Indiana and Alabama). Sheetz, on the other hand, goes much farther inland with much better options in Ohio and both Virginias.
15. Gas
It's hard to judge gas prices, considering they change every day, however, one thing is for certain: every Sheetz has gas. While Wawa is known as a "gas station" some of their older locations are convenience stores only, meaning you have to get your gas and your convenience store necessities separately. Sheetz is a one-stop-shop.
16. MTO
Sheetz pioneered the concept of Made to Order (MTO) which has since become their signature. While MTO started off with sub ingredioe scribbled onto a slip of paper, it has since evolved into endless customization. Tater tots in our burrito? Don't mind if we do.
17. Judgement-Free Zone
Convenience stores should automatically be judgement-free zones since they see humanity at its most vulnerable, but Sheetz truly feels like nobody cares. Yes, the employees want you to be happy (even offering shelter and free sandwiches during a bad storm a few years back), but they couldn't care less about what you're ordering or wearing. A pair of Sheetz freaks even tied the knot in the store in 2019.
Andre Carrotflower on Wikimedia
18. Employee Happiness
Sheetz has consistently ranked among Fortune magazine's best companies to work for for the past decade. Sheetz ranked 40 on the 2025 list, the only convenience chain present. Part of this employee satisfaction may be due in part to Sheetz still being (and feeling) like a family business while being a chain.
19. Hot Dogs
This is the last time we discuss a specific food item, we promise. Anyway you can get two hot dogs for 99¢, a price that rivals Costco's infamous hot dog combo. Not one but two dogs for less than a dollar.
20. Indulgent Delights
Sure, Sheetz is a bit of a punchline about American obesity rates, but if you wanted fresh food you'd go to a grocery store, and if you wanted high-quality coffee, you'd go to a cafe. But you're not here for those. You're here for the greasy, indulgent, and all-American fare that sticks to your stomach.
