Wawa recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Garfield, N.J., regarding a municipal law that would restrict the retailer’s operating hours, with the store currently operating 24 hours a day, according to local publication NJ.com.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit all retailers from operating between midnight and 6 a.m. Dating back to 1972, the law was previously amended in 2008 to exempt supermarkets and c-stores that meet certain criteria.
City Council voted in May to amend the law once more, this time recategorizing the definition of a “retail business,” which subsequently ended Wawa’s exemption from the ordinance. It also extended the operating hours restriction from midnight to 10 p.m.
As it stands, Wawa currently has a temporary restraining order from a Bergen County Superior Court judge which stops the city from enforcing the law.
According to NJ.com, Wawa first opened the Garfield site in 2012 when there were no restrictions in place for the retailer. The lawsuit states that the store remaining open 24/7 is a critical aspect of its brand, noting that 25% of sales come between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
City council cited “noise complaints and alleged disorderly conduct” as reasoning for the amendment.
Growing Pains
The turmoil in New Jersey comes as Wawa continues its rapid expansion to new markets. Back in February 2024, Wawa released a statement with CEO Chris Gheysens noting that the company would be undergoing “the most aggressive growth” in company history.
Since then, the retailer has opened new stores in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, central Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida and Ohio.
Prior to its Ohio move, Wawa’s most recent endeavor was Indiana, which it officially entered in May with the opening of three sites in Daleville, Noblesville and Clarksville.
“We’re thrilled to fly into Indiana and bring our unique combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience and service to new friends and neighbors,” said Schaller at the time. “This historic milestone kicks off the next chapter of our growth in the Midwest, and we’re overjoyed at the warm welcome we continue to receive from so many communities we’re now proud to count as part of the Wawa flock.”
The retailer still has its sights set on expansion, as it plans to add hundreds of stores across Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina and other key states that were recently added to its network.
Stay tuned for updates on Wawa’s expansion from CStore Decisions.
