Wawa, a privately held, family and associate-owned chain of more than 1,060 convenience retail stores is continuing their path to opening their first stores in North Carolina. 

In a press release, the company has announced the official grand opening date for their first store in Robeson County, NC. 

The community is invited to join them on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m. at 150 Jackson Ct., Lumberton, NC (Exit #22 of I-95) for their grand opening. 

During the grand opening event, Wawa will host festivities and a ribbon cutting, announce community partnerships and support for local organizations and celebrate local everyday heroes with its signature “Hoagies for Heroes” initiative. 

“We are excited to continue our expansion into North Carolina with our first store in Robeson County” said Director of Store Operations Kim Dowgielewicz in a press release. “We look forward to continuing to bring our unique brand of fresh food, beverages and convenience to new areas and to further our commitment to providing the community with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner.”

Wawa is aiming to open up to 10 new stores in North Carolina  including its first Travel Center in Hope Mills, and stores in Garner, Fayetteville, Jacksonville and additional stores in Greenville, Wilson and Goldsboro by the end of 2025. 

Over the next eight-10 years, Wawa plans to build and open six to eight stores per year reaching a total of 90 stores in North Carolina. To build each store, Wawa will invest more than $7.5 million per store and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners to build the store. Once open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates with Wawa expecting to create more than 3,000

long-term new jobs as a result of expansion in North Carolina.

The company celebrated the ground breaking for their Hope Mills storefront, located at 5750 Corporation Drive. in August of 2024. 

The Hope Mills location will be the first ever Wawa Travel Center and is expected to open in the second quarter of 2025. 

The approximately 8,300 square foot center will offer Wawa’s signature fresh food and beverages, six high speed diesel fuel lanes with free water and air at each pump lane and 20 fuel spots for passenger drivers. Other amenities include interior and exterior seating, a CAT weigh station,

18 free short-term parking spaces for tractor-trailers, 83 parking spaces including five parking stalls for RVs and oversized vehicles, two free air pumps, well-maintained restrooms and a family restroom with a changing table and a pet relief area.

Learn more about Wawa and their brand on their website here.