Wawa Opens Nov 19, Residence Inn Open on Ring Road

Key Takeaways

• Priddy Jewelers owner Harold Wesley "Wes" Priddy passed away October 28 after 48 years in Elizabethtown, and the family will continue to own and operate the store
• The Residence Inn is now open on Ring Road, with studios and a two-bedroom, two-bath suite
• Wawa on Ring Road, near Cool Springs, opens Thursday, November 19, at 8 a.m., confirmed by local leaders
• A Glendale development across from the Pilot off Dixie at exit 86 is planned to include a Shell station, a Subway and a coffee place, plus a strip center

Summary

Nate Bryan opened this week's Business Buzz on a somber note: the passing of Wes Priddy, the owner of Priddy Jewelers, who served Elizabethtown for 48 years as a watchmaker, bench jeweler and owner.

From there Nate had three pieces of good news for the county: the Residence Inn is open on Ring Road, Wawa has an opening date of Thursday, November 19, and a new development is coming to Glendale.

Full Article

Nate's list this week, as he sent it to the show:

Priddy Jewelers Owner dies

Residence Inn now open off Ring Road. Nate has pics.

Wawa has an opening date. Really!

Double gas station news as Shell, Subway and a coffee place will anchor Glendale development

Remembering Wes Priddy

"I'm going to start this one off very somber," Nate said. He read from the post Priddy Jewelers shared: "With great sorrow, we share the passing of our owner, father, husband, and friend," Harold Wesley "Wes" Priddy, on October 28, 2026. Wes served the Elizabethtown community for 48 years as a watchmaker, bench jeweler and owner of Priddy Jewelers. The funeral was held Tuesday, November 3.

Nate said 48 years is longer than he has been alive, so the store has been there his entire lifetime. "That's impressive. That's a legacy," he said. He said the comments he has seen show how much respect the community has for the store, and he has not seen a single negative one. "They're beloved, they're respected," he said.

A host who is close to the family spoke about the store's future. The family will continue to own and operate Priddy Jewelers, with no changes, and the store will remain a staple of the community. That host described Mr. Priddy as "quite a man" who will be sorely missed, and asked people to keep visiting the shop. "We love you, Priddy Jewelers," Nate said. "We hope you bounce back."

The Residence Inn is open

Nate was driving around when he saw the signs: the Residence Inn is now open on Ring Road, the hotel up on the hill. He says it is very nice inside, with a huge lobby and a nice patio, and he has pictures that he will post on his own page.

As with SpringHill Suites, he said, the market is moving toward suites and studios, and the Residence Inn has a two-bedroom, two-bath. When sports teams travel, he said, they want rooms where they can relax, with a kitchen, bedrooms for the kids and a second bathroom. "I think this fills a niche," Nate said, "and I think it's going to do very well."

Wawa has a date

This is the one people keep asking Nate about. Wawa on Ring Road, out near Cool Springs, opens Thursday, November 19, at 8 a.m. "Mark it down," Nate said. "Not lying. 8 a.m., Thursday, November 19, Wawa will be opening."

He knows there were delays. He thanked Phil, because the two of them spent time digging through information about what happened and why everything was delayed. Nate also checked Wawa's grand opening website again that day, and the opening is not listed there yet. He said Wawa has hundreds and thousands of stores and is not always quick to list every grand opening, but local leaders have confirmed November 19 at 8 a.m.

The hosts spent some time on the obvious question: Wawa subs or Publix subs? One host said a showdown between the two would be a fun video for Britten, as long as the comparison is apples to apples, an Italian against an Italian.

Glendale development

Nate also had what he called double gas station news. A new development is planned in Glendale, across from the Pilot off Dixie at I-65 exit 86. He said the developer is well respected and has a lot of developments in the community. Nate expects it to include a Shell station, a Subway and possibly a coffee place, plus a shopping strip center, with room for anyone who wants to build a hotel, bank or restaurant there. Interested businesses can contact the developer.

Nate lives between Glendale and Elizabethtown, so this one is close to home. He said the location checks the boxes for these brands: it is by an interstate, near factories and gas stations, and the Subway footprint is small, about a thousand square feet. "It's good to see that side developing," he said.

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