Wawa to open its first-ever travel center
Wawa is piloting a new format as it continues to expand into new markets.
The convenience store chain will open its first-ever travel center on Aug. 28 in Hope Mills, N.C. With more than 8,000 sq. ft. of space, the location will offer Wawa’s signature fresh food and beverage assortment, and interior and exterior seating areas, along with fuel for passenger vehicles and a high-speed diesel fuel court for professional tractor trailer drivers.
The fuel features include six high speed diesel fuel lanes, accepting over the road (OTR) payments, and 20 fuel spots for passenger drivers. Other amenities include a CAT weigh station, free parking for tractor-trailers, restrooms and a pet relief area.
“We are thrilled to pilot this new format in Hope Mills and believe this new travel center model is a great way to bring Wawa to customers while serving a need to the travelers,” said John Poplawski, Wawa chief real estate officer. “Not only will our Wawa Travel Center meet the fueling needs of professional drivers, but our store will offer the freshest of food, beverages, conveniences and the friendliest flock of associates, while also remaining a community hub for local friends and neighbors to enjoy.”
Wawa Expansion
The travel center is part of Wawa's larger expansion in North Carolina. During the next eight to 10 years, the company plans to build and open six to eight stores per year as it looks to reach a total of 90 stores in the state.
To build each store, Wawa will invest more than $7.5 million per location and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners.
In July, Wawa opened its first store in the state of Kentucky, in Louisville. The location is the first of up to eight Wawa stores slated to open in Kentucky by year’s end. It also is entering Tennessee, with six locations planned to open before the end of 2026. Earlier this year, Wawa said it plans to open 700 locations by 2030.
The privately-held Wawa operates more than 1,100 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Washington, D.C.
