Recently, a lighthearted debate erupted among residents of Philadelphia regarding the terminology used for sandwiches sold at Wawa. The discussion was sparked by B.K. Borison, a romance author, whose book “And Now, Back to You” referred to a Wawa sandwich as a “sub.” This choice of words did not sit well with many Philly natives, who take their sandwich nomenclature seriously.
Response from the Community
The issue gained traction after a reader, known as @samanthaistan, expressed her discontent on Threads. She stated, “The phrase ‘a sub from Wawa’ in the book I’m reading (and absolutely loving) might just haunt me.”
Borison responded playfully, affirming her choice of words: “I don’t know what to tell you, but I said sub from Wawa and I meant it.” Her comments sparked a flurry of reactions from various brands, other authors, and locals from Philadelphia and the DMV area.
The Great Hoagie vs. Sub Debate
Visit Philly, a prominent tourism guide for the city, chimed in, labeling Borison’s comment as “loud and wrong.” Many residents defended the traditional nomenclature by asserting that a Wawa sandwich is unequivocally a hoagie, especially during the annual “Hoagiefest.”
Borison defended her terminology, clarifying her perspective: “I live in Baltimore. The book takes place in Baltimore. No one in Baltimore is calling it a hoagie GOOD NIGHT.”
Public Reactions
The lively exchange on social media brought forth varied opinions. One user humorously noted, “At first I was gonna defend the fine City of Brotherly Love but considering the character is a Marylander that is 100% accurate.”
A native Philadelphian, now residing in Washington D.C., shared, “I think this is hysterical, and I love that you stick to your regional dialect. …Now I’m gonna go sip my wooder and mind my own business.”
Media Attention and Support from Wawa
The incident escalated when the Philadelphia Inquirer covered the debate, prompting Borison to comment, “This is the most unserious day of my life,” alongside a screenshot of their article. The official account of Penguin Books USA joined the conversation, acknowledging the ongoing discourse with humor.
Moreover, Wawa headquarters reached out to Borison, offering to send her a “little something” to celebrate her book’s release, indicating the broad reach of this quirky debate.
Concluding Thoughts
The heated discussion raises interesting questions about regional language preferences. Are you Team Hoagie or Team Sub? Or perhaps you support a different terminology? The friendly debate continues to engage lovers of Philadelphia culture and Wawa enthusiasts alike.
