Dive Brief:
- Wawa held a grand opening for its first travel center on Thursday in Hope Mills, North Carolina, the company announced on Thursday.
- This 8,000-square-foot format, which was first announced in May 2024, is designed to cater to professional drivers, with big-rig parking in the lot and high-speed diesel available under the canopies.
- The Pennsylvania-based retailer also shared that it has begun construction on two more travel centers, which will be in Ohio and Indiana.
Dive Insight:
While Wawa has a decades-long history on the East Coast, the three travel centers it has announced so far are in states the retailer has only recently entered. The company opened its first North Carolina store in April 2024 and debuted in Ohio and Indiana earlier this year.
The travel centers include indoor and outdoor seating, large bathrooms and an area to walk pets. The forecourt offers six diesel lanes and 20 fueling positions for passenger vehicles as well as a CAT weigh station.
“This historic milestone kicks off the next chapter of our growth as we debut a new store format and prepare to bring it to additional locations in Ohio and Indiana in the coming months,” Wawa President Brian Schaller said about the Hope Mills location.
Wawa plans to open six to eight stores per year in North Carolina over the next decade, eventually reaching 90 locations in the state. That growth is part of Wawa’s larger expansion into new markets across its footprint, with a goal of reaching 1,800 stores by 2028. The company currently operates more than 1,100 stores.
Wawa’s shift toward travel centers puts it in company with other major chains like Casey’s General Stores, QuikTrip and RaceTrac that are looking to the format as a way to boost profits.