Wawa has broken ground on its first two stores in Kentucky – one at 9650 Preston Crossing Blvd. in Louisville and the other at 3012 Lexington Road in Nicholasville – that are projected to open in the late second quarter of 2025.
The groundbreaking ceremonies included VIP customers, state and local officials and charity partners.
[RELATED: Wawa Announces Expansion Into Kentucky]
“We are excited to begin construction on our stores in Kentucky as we get closer to bringing the unique Wawa experience to new customers in more markets,” said Joe Collins, director of store operations.
Wawa will begin construction on three additional Kentucky stores in 2024, with projected openings in the third quarter 2025:
- 4314 Bardstown Road, Louisville;
- 900 East Main St., Georgetown; and
- 1354 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville, Indiana (Louisville market).
In 2025, Wawa expects to open nine stores in Kentucky. Over the next five to eight years, the company aims to add five to eight stores per year in the Louisville and Lexington markets, with plans to open up to 40 stores in the state.
[RELATED: Wawa Breaks Ground On Stores In Indiana, Ohio]
Wawa has more than 20 sites under contract across 12 Kentucky counties. Those sites are going through the local land development and permitting processes and include locations in the counties of Boone, Bullitt, Campbell, Fayette, Hardin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Oldham, Scott, Shelby, Simpson and Warren.
For each project, Wawa will invest more than $7.5 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will have about 35 employees, with Wawa expecting to create nearly 1,500 long-term new jobs as a result of expansion in the state.
Community Grants
As part of the groundbreakings, Wawa and The Wawa Foundation announced contributions to two community partners in Kentucky.
Dare to Care and God’s Pantry Food Banks each received $10,000 from The Wawa Foundation Fly Beyond Fund, a signature initiative to fight food insecurity and support programs providing food to build healthy habits and help kids thrive. The funds were part of a $1.5 million Key Issue Grant awarded to food bank partners in Wawa’s operating area.
“The Wawa Foundation is thrilled to provide grants to our food bank partners toward programs providing consistent access to nutritious and healthy meals for kids,” said Elizabeth Simeone, the foundation’s president.
“We are very excited to begin to share our Fly Beyond mission with our newest Food Bank partners in the Midwest as we begin our expansion to these new markets.”
