Wawa's Expansion Brings $1.2 Billion Investment to Midwest

Wawa, the beloved Delaware County convenience store chain, is pushing westward. This month, the company broke ground on its first locations in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, kicking off an ambitious Midwest expansion plan.

"2024 kicks off an amazing growth period for Wawa," John Poplawski, the chain's vice president of real estate, told the Dayton Business Journal. He added that it will be "the largest five-year period of expansion in its history."

The numbers are impressive. Wawa plans to open up to 160 stores across the three states over the next five to eight years. This represents a $1.2 billion investment and could create around 5,600 new jobs. Each store costs about $7.5 million to build and employs roughly 35 people.

In the Bluegrass State, construction has begun on two locations in the Louisville and Lexington areas, with plans for a total of 40 stores and a $300 million investment. Meanwhile, Ohio saw the start of a Cincinnati store, part of a larger plan for up to 60 locations and a $450 million commitment, while Indiana welcomed Wawa's groundbreaking in Indianapolis, where the company aims to open another 60 stores with a matching $450 million investment.

This Midwest push is part of Wawa's larger growth strategy. The chain currently operates about 1,050 stores across eight states and Washington, D.C. With 70 new stores planned this year alone, they're marching towards a goal of 1,800 locations by 2030.

But Wawa isn't just heading west. They're also expanding in the Southeast, with new stores planned in Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia. And they're not forgetting their roots – a $300 million expansion is in the works for central Pennsylvania, longtime territory of rival Sheetz.

Wawa President Brian Schaller told the Business Journal in April that out of this year's new store openings, about 30 will be in Wawa's core Mid-Atlantic region, while 21 will launch in new markets.