Wawa to open 40 stores in Kentucky, starting in mid-2025
Wawa has revealed its expansion plans for the Bluegrass State.
The convenience-store chain said it plans to open at least 40 stores across Kentucky during the next eight to 10 years, with the first groundbreakings beginning in mid-2024. The first stores are projected to open by mid-2025, with plans to open up to 10 locations that year, five additional stores in 2026 and five stores each year after that.
To date, Wawa has more than 15 sites under contract across Boone, Bullitt, Fayette, Hardin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Oldham, Scott, Shelby and Warren Counties. These projected stores are currently making their way through the permitting and approval process. The company said its teams are continuing to look for sites throughout the market.
Wawa revealed its growth plans for the Kentucky market at two Community Partnership events on September 26, with one in Louisville and the other in Lexington. The events officially introduced Wawa to the community and allowed Wawa leaders to connect with hundreds of new friends, neighbors and VIP customers, as well as local officials and partners, the company said.
In addition, attendees received a glimpse of new store design renderings and had the opportunity to hear about the Wawa story, its offering and commitment to its new Midwest region communities, including new partnerships and community support of local organizations.
“We were thrilled to share our ‘flight plan’ for Kentucky and reveal, for the very first time, our exciting expansion plans, renderings and more with our newest soon-to-be neighbors,” said Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa. We can’t wait to begin putting shovels into the ground next year. As we get closer to our grand openings in 2025, we will be sharing even more details on our growth in Kentucky and connecting with more customers, communities, partners and nonprofit organizations that together make this such an incredible region to be a part of.”
Wawa announced contributions to three regional community partners: Kentucky Special Olympics, Dare to Care Food Pantry and God’s Pantry Food Bank, with contributions totaling more than $22,000.
“We are excited to welcome Wawa to Louisville, and we look forward to working with them as they open multiple locations across our city,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “This family- and associate-owned convenience store chain has a passionate customer base built around its signature hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, and hand-crafted smoothies, so we encourage everyone to come see what Wawa is all about.”
Wawa is actively looking into potential sites for new stores in the Kentucky markets. To build each store, Wawa will invest approximately $7 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will employ, on average, 35 associates, with Wawa expecting to create more than 1,400 new jobs as a result of its expansion.
The privately held, family and associate-owned Wawa currently operates nearly 1,000 stores across in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.