WILMINGTON — A famed northern fuel station and convenience store will break ground in Wilmington this week.
READ MORE: Wilmington or ‘Wawaton’? 10 stores from the popular chain planned for region, 6 in town
Wawa has been expanding into North Carolina in recent years, with its first location in Wilmington landing at 17th Street and Wellington Avenue. Wawa first applied for a rezoning at the location in 2023 after purchasing area properties. This prompted the relocation of multiple small, local businesses.
The fuel station will officially break ground on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m., with Mayor Bill Saffo and local and state officials joining Wawa executives on site. The store is the first among 10 coming to the tri-county region, to include:
- Ocean Hwy and Frontage Road, NW, Shallotte
- Ocean Hwy and Lanvale Road, Leland
- 3 Green Swamp Road, NW, Supply
- S. 17th Street and Wellington Avenue, Wilmington
- 6800 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington
- The 9000 block of Stephens Church Road, Wilmington
- 4113 U.S. 421, Wilmington
- 7375 Market Street, Wilmington
- 5400 Oleander Drive, Wilmington
- 19240 U.S. 17, Hampstead
The event will feature details about Wawa’s history and culture, provide updates on expansion plans, showcase local investments and job opportunities, and highlight charity partners Wawa will work with, including area nonprofits. There also will be giveaways and tastes of Wawa’s signature products available.
Wawa employs 45,000 people and secured $18.8 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes. The store has garnered a cult following for its build-your-own sandwiches, hoagies, wraps and hot breakfast handhelds (“Sizzlis”), as well as coffee and flavored teas.
It’s undergoing plans to expand by 700 stores in the next five years, including in the Midwest and South. This will bring its footprint to more than 1,800 stores, with the goal to open around 80 in North Carolina.
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