A Wawa gas station and convenience store is planned for a 3.01-acre parcel on East Fowler Avenue at the former Big Top Flea Market site in Thonotosassa. Early site preparation has begun, and the store could open by mid-2027. The project adds a familiar retailer to a property gradually transitioning from flea market to mixed-use development.
Key takeaways
- The planned store is near East Fowler Avenue and Jefferson Road, just outside Temple Terrace.
- Crews have begun preliminary site work, including erosion-control measures.
- The Wawa is expected to open around mid-2027, potentially sooner.
- The former flea market property also includes the Tessa Springs apartment development.
The store is planned for part of the former market property, where redevelopment has advanced in stages since the flea market closed in 2020.
Site preparation is underway
A contractor has announced work on a new Wawa development near Fowler Avenue and Jefferson Road. Initial activity includes preparing the property and installing safeguards such as silt fencing and tree barriers; the announcement indicates construction is moving toward the next phase, but does not provide a detailed building schedule.
The site is a 3.01-acre commercial parcel east of Jefferson Road. Property records show it was sold for $1.6 million in December 2025 to BW Fowler Jefferson LLC, a company managed by Tampa-based Brightwork Real Estate. The parcel was separated from a larger tract owned by Big Top of Tampa Inc. A separate, neighboring 1.45-acre parcel is being marketed for sale.
A new chapter for the Big Top site
Big Top Flea Market was a popular destination for bargain hunters and local sellers for nearly two decades before closing in April 2020. The property was later rezoned for residential and commercial uses, with plans calling for businesses such as restaurants, offices and a bank.
One major project already on the site is Tessa Springs, a 292-unit apartment development. The planned Wawa is another sign of commercial activity taking shape on the former market grounds, where redevelopment has been gradual.
Fowler Avenue’s commercial growth
The Wawa is part of a broader wave of development along Fowler Avenue between Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 301. Nearby projects include a recently opened Ace Hardware, the New Tampa Commerce Center, which is under construction and expected to be ready in 2027, and an Aldi being built near the highway intersection.
The new store would bring Wawa’s fuel, prepared foods and coffee offerings to the area. Its projected mid-2027 opening would add a major convenience retailer as the surrounding corridor continues to change.