When the spirit moves us, DCist spouts off about what’s missing in the D.C. area. With the recent news that 7-Eleven will be eschewing Slim Jims and six-packs in favor of fresh produce and sandwiches (don’t worry — Slurpees are safely entrenched), we couldn’t help but think of the very best convenience store of them all — one that already blends snack foods with its own fresh, special fare: Wawa. And then we lamented the fact that there are no Wawas in the District of Columbia proper. Or even in Arlington, Alexandria, or Silver Spring. Indeed, the closest Wawas are in College Park, Md. and Woodbridge, Va. And that’s simply too far for our tastes.

Why is the Pennsylvania-based Wawa better than an ordinary convenience store? Because their mascot is a goose. Because their ATMs don’t charge fees. Because their deli counters have touch-screen computers to place your order. Because their soda machine lets you add flavor bursts. And mainly because Wawa features regular old junk food (including Tastykakes) and fresh, superb, Wawa-specific convenience store fare. Chief among this fare is the famed Wawa hoagie — perhaps the closest mass-produced approximation of the glorious Philadelphia hoagie one can find outside of the greater Shackamaxon vicinity. (They even use Amoroso rolls, for gosh sake.) Along the same lines are their authentic Philly soft pretzels at two for 99 cents. They’ve also got their very own kick-ass line of drinks (cookies and cream milk or raspberry iced tea, anyone?) and great coffee. What’s more, they give you the option of picking up healthy snacks such as chopped veggies and fresh fruits and fruit salads amidst the junk food. And that’s not even to mention the standard convenience store items they’ve got for sale.

D.C. is oft-proclaimed chain-heavy, but we are certainly not opposed to chains that do good work. CVS’s paltry refrigerated food section doesn’t cut it. 7-Eleven isn’t close to where it should be. And the local markets around town haven’t stepped it up. Accordingly, it’s time to call in Wawa — the convenience store to which we have long professed our fealty. And we’re not alone in proclaiming our love for Wawa. How much longer must we eat Subway sandwiches when we know that a Wawa could be on every corner? Save us from convenience store mediocrity.