Since the beginning of 2024, Wawa has been expanding at a rapid pace, with CEO Chris Gheysens noting that the company is undergoing “the most aggressive growth” in company history. The company has since grown to two new states, Georgia and Alabama, and has plans to significantly expand in key states like Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
Now, the retailer is focusing on Virginia, as it recently began its westward expansion in the state with two new groundbreakings in Lynchburg and Staunton. The company already operates 110 stores in the state, mainly located on the east side of the state near Richmond.
Wawa representatives at the Lynchburg groundbreaking noted that it will be significantly investing in the central Virginia market going forward, with this move signifying the company’s investment to growth in the area, according to ABC13 News.
Wawa plans to invest $7 million into the Lynchburg store itself, including 115 contractors to help with construction and 35 employees once it is up and running. The site is expected to be functional by the end of the year, and will offer custom-made sandwiches, smoothies and Wawa staples that customers have come to expect.
The retailer currently has 12 sites under contract in the central Virginia market, with plans to add 30 stores in the next five years and 60 in the next 10 years, Wawa’s Director of Site Acquisition, Greg Harvey, told ABC13 News.
Multi-Market Growth
Wawa is not just focusing on Virginia, however, as it builds up its footprint. The chain also recently announced that its first Ohio c-store, located in Liberty Township, will open April 16, launching its expansion across the Midwest. Not only does this date mark the retailer’s entrance into its 10th state, but it coincides with the founding date of the first Wawa store that opened on April 16, 1964, in Delaware County, Pa.
“We are excited to fly into Ohio and bring our unique combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience and service to this state for the very first time. This historic milestone kicks off our ongoing growth and expansion in Ohio as we continue to build new stores and create new jobs,” said Brian Schaller, president of Wawa.
The company’s Ohio growth plan looks similar to its Virginia intentions — in 2025, Wawa aims to open 8-10 stores in the Buckeye State, and then continue opening 6-10 stores per year until it reaches 60 in the state.
To build each store, Wawa will invest more than $7.5 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners. Once open, each store will have an average of 35 employees, with Wawa expecting to create 2,100 new, long-term new jobs as a result of expansion in Ohio.
Today, Wawa operates stores across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Washington, D.C., with over 1,100 locations to date.
