Wawa

Aberdeen police yesterday combed the area near a Wawa store where two female employees were shot to death Monday and were hoping to enhance a surveillance video for clues to the killings, which rocked the tight-knit community where both workers were well-known. "We're looking at it as an apparent robbery attempt," said Capt. Kenneth Cox, a spokesman for the Aberdeen Police Department, whose department was releasing few details yesterday. "But we're not convinced that was the motive yet."

Two female employees were fatally shot during an attempted robbery of a convenience store last night, Aberdeen police said.Aberdeen police, county sheriff's deputies, Havre de Grace police and state troopers were searching early today for one man, possibly two.The women were killed about 8: 10 p.m. in a Wawa Food Market in the 200 block of N. Philadelphia Blvd., said Detective Sgt. Fred Budnick of Aberdeen City Police.One of the victims died at the scene; the other was pronounced dead at Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace, said a spokesman for the Harford County Fire Board.

After almost two years without even a small convenience store, residents of Oakland Mills village will get a place to shop this summer.Thunder Mart, a 3,200-square-foot convenience store, will replace the WaWa store that burned down two years ago. The store, which will face Log Chain Road, will have a full-service deli and a walk-up window to serve patrons at the nearby Thunder Hill pool.For residents of Oakland Mills village, shopping has been difficult since the WaWa store burned and the Giant grocery store left last year.

A man who was robbing a Crownsville WaWa store was scared away yesterday by headlights from a car pulling up to the store, county police said.A clerk at the store in the 1000 block of General's Highway told police the man walked into the store about 3: 30 a.m. and asked for two cartons of cigarettes.When the clerk turned around to get them, the man put his hand into his coat pocket, pointed it at the clerk and demanded money, police said. The clerk told him the register wouldn't open, so he walked around the counter to open it himself.

A man wielding a large, black revolver held up a Glen Burnie convenience story early yesterday, county police said.The man walked into the Wawa store in the 7600 block of Quarterfield Road about 2: 30 a.m. and asked for cigarettes, then reached into his coat pocket, pulled the gun and demanded the clerk give him money from the register.The clerk turned over an undisclosed amount, and the man fled on foot, police said.A man with a black, semiautomatic handgun robbed a Sun deliveryman early Friday as he was serving his route in Glen Burnie, county police said.

Real estate agents have reduced the price of the site of a former Wawa Food Market in east Columbia but are still struggling -- after nearly two years -- to find a tenant.Robert A. Freedman, of Corridor Commercial Real Estate Group, said he is surprised the property in the Thunder Hill neighborhood of Oakland Mills village has not sold. "We are actively marketing the site, but it is simply not a corner location at a crowded intersection on a main road," he said. "Ten or 15 years ago, this was a tremendous location.

A major convenience store chain has stopped selling Maryland lottery tickets, but officials don't expect the decision to have much impact on state revenue.Wawa food stores discontinued lottery sales in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania on Friday. The 496-store chain, which is based in suburban Philadelphia, sold tickets in 62 stores, including 17 in Maryland.Lori Bruce, a Wawa spokeswoman, said company officials wanted outlets to put greater emphasis on food sales and quicker transactions.

An unidentified developer wants to buy the site of the former Wawa Food Market in east Columbia but will not purchase the land or build on it until a new tenant agrees to open a business there.The tenant -- or tenants -- must sign a multiyear lease and be prepared to invest $50,000 to $200,000 to open a business, probably a convenience store, said Robert Freedman, a partner for Corridor Commercial Real Estate Group, which is marketing the estimated $300,000 site in Oakland Mills village."It's a good site, but not a great site because it's not on a main thoroughfare," Freedman said.

One month after a teen-ager was convicted of burning down the community-supported Wawa Food Market in the Thunder Hill Neighborhood Center in east Columbia, a local developer is said to be interested in buying the vacant site and attracting another convenience store.Robert Freedman, a partner for Corridor Commercial Real Estate Group, which is marketing the estimated $300,000 site, said he is in negotiations with an unidentified developer to bring in a convenience store to serve that community in Columbia's Oakland Mills village.

Charges filed against a 19-year-old Columbia resident after a 1995 fire destroyed a Wawa convenience store in Oakland Mills were dropped yesterday in Howard County Circuit Court because of lack of evidence.Assistant State's Attorney Janine Rice said she dismissed arson and other charges against Sam Philips because a Circuit Court judge had suppressed his confession. There was no other evidence linking him to the scene of the fire, which caused $400,000 in damage."It's frustrating to know you have evidence but are unable to use it," Rice said.