As the Pennsylvania-based sandwich chain Wawa continues to expand its hoagie empire to D.C., 7-Eleven seems to be carving out its own space in the fast-casual trend.

Last week, 7-Eleven opened its second “Evolution Store,” after the retailer successfully piloted the concept in Dallas. The new storefront at 504 K Street NW has features echoing the user-friendly and time-saving customer experience of Wawa, the Philly-based cult favorite that has set its sights on establishing a 50-store presence in D.C.

The Evolution concept is an upgrade in both style and function for 7-Eleven, with a brick-and-black matte aesthetic and expanded food selection beyond gas station snacks. Where most 7-Elevens feature hot dogs on roller grills and chicken fingers baking under a heat lamp, the new Evolution Store comes complete with in-house Mexican food from the company’s fast-casual brand Laredo Taco Company, prepared in a Chipotle-style assembly line. Outdoor and indoor seating areas encourage guests to make their convenience-store-stop into an experience, similar to the sentiment behind the Taco Bell Cantina: an upmarket take on a meme-ably casual fast food chain.

Customers can order ahead using an app, or customize their orders on a touch-screen kiosk, similar to Wawa’s ordering design. There’s a self-service “cold bar” with frozen yogurt and soft-serve dispensers, a coffee bar with cold brew and espresso drinks, and an expanded beauty and technology section with wireless earbuds and Amazon Echos.

Wawa landed in D.C. in 2017 with the company’s largest-ever storefront, and has since expanded to five outposts around the District. Each unveiling typically stirs up excitement from Wawa fanatics, but word around the new 7-Eleven has been pretty mum. The third Evolution concept will open in San Diego in the coming months—where it will feature The Cellar, a section for wine and craft beer—but the company hasn’t announced whether any of the 50 existing 7-Elevens in D.C. locations will be transforming in the future.

So, will 7-Eleven’s efforts to establish themselves in the fast-casual trend work? Can fresh salsa and breakfast tacos replace the popularity of Wawa’s long-standing Sizzli sandwich? Would Hoagiefest loyalists ever abandon their summer lunchtime tradition for carne asada and kombucha?

We’re curious what you think …

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