Wawa has unveiled plans for 40 convenience-store openings across Kentucky over the next eight to 10 years.
The first groundbreakings are set to begin in mid-2024, and 10 stores are projected to begin opening by mid-2025. Five additional stores will open in 2026 and five stores will open each year thereafter. Wawa teams continue to look for sites throughout the market.
So far, 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, and Wawa will announce specific locations and estimated timing for the first store openings in Kentucky once these processes are complete, the company said.
“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 revealed its first plans to enter Kentucky in August, disclosing information about an Elizabethtown location. Wawa has not announced an opening date.
Wawa announced details on its growth plans for the Kentucky market at two Community Partnership events on Sept. 26 in Louisville at Lynn Family Soccer Stadium and in Lexington at Old Historic Courthouse. These 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. In addition, attendees received a glimpse of new store design renderings and had the opportunity to hear about the Wawa story, Wawa’s offerings and Wawa’s commitment to its new Midwest region communities, including new partnerships and community support of local organizations.
At the events, Wawa also encouraged customers to enjoy a taste of Wawa, including samples of freshly made hoagies, freshly brewed coffee and other handcrafted beverages as it debuted its new Wawa Community Care Beverage Vehicle. Altogether, Wawa distributed thousands of samples of Wawa strawberry smoothies and Wawa Dragon Fruit Refreshers, hundreds of cups of Wawa regular and flavored coffees and hundreds of hoagie samples.
Finally, 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.
The Community Partnership Day Tour will continue to Ohio and Indiana to reveal more plans for the Midwest.
- Wawa is No. 9 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains by store count.
Wawa has about 1,000 stores primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.
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