During a two-stop Community Partnership Day visit to Kentucky on Sept. 26, Wawa announced its plans to open about 40 stores across the commonwealth over the next eight to 10 years, with the first groundbreakings set for mid-2024.
To date, Wawa has more than 15 sites under contract across Boone, Bullitt, Fayette, Hardin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Oldham, Scott, Shelby and Warren Counties. Plans for those locations are making their way through the permitting and approval process. Once that is complete, the company will reveal specific locations and estimated timing of store openings.
The first store locations are projected to open by mid-2025, with openings of 10 locations that year and then five in 2026 and each year thereafter.
Details on Wawa’s growth plans for the Kentucky market were announced during events at Lynn Family Soccer Stadium in Louisville and Old Historic Courthouse in Lexington. The gatherings introduced Wawa to the community and allowed company leaders to connect with hundreds of people, including local officials and partners.
In addition, attendees got a glimpse of store design renderings and learned about Wawa, its offerings and commitment to communities.
“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.
“Our Community Partnership Day events also gave us the opportunity to meet new faces and talk a little bit about our history and what makes Wawa such an ideal fit for communities in this region. 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.”
Finally, Wawa announced $22,000 in contributions to three regional community partners: Kentucky Special Olympics, Dare to Care Food Pantry and God’s Pantry Food Bank.
About Wawa
Wawa Inc. is a privately-held, family and associate-owned company that began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family in 1902 began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pennsylvania.
As home delivery of milk declined, his grandson, Grahame Wood, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, the company has nearly 1,000 stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
