Introduction
Wawa, the beloved convenience store chain, is expanding its reach to the Midwest. The company is opening new locations in the region, bringing its signature convenience and quality products to a new set of customers. Wawa is known for its fresh food, coffee, and convenience items, and its new locations in the Midwest will offer the same great products and services that customers have come to expect from the brand. With its expansion into the Midwest, Wawa is sure to become a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Wawa Opening New Locations in the Midwest
Wawa, the popular convenience store chain, is expanding its reach into the Midwest. The company announced that it will be opening new locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This marks the first time that Wawa has opened stores in the Midwest, and it is part of the company’s larger plan to expand its presence in the region.
The new stores will offer the same convenience and quality that customers have come to expect from Wawa. Customers will be able to purchase fresh food, snacks, and beverages, as well as fuel up their vehicles. The stores will also feature a variety of amenities, including a seating area, free Wi-Fi, and a selection of grab-and-go items.
The expansion into the Midwest is part of Wawa’s larger plan to become a national brand. The company has already opened stores in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and it plans to open more locations in the coming years. Wawa is also looking to expand its presence in other parts of the country, including the West Coast.
Wawa’s expansion into the Midwest is a welcome development for customers in the region. The company’s stores offer a convenient and affordable option for those looking for a quick meal or snack. With the addition of new locations, customers in the Midwest will have even more options when it comes to convenience stores.
The cult of Wawa is a serious one, and if you’ve ever been privileged enough to experience what this convenience store/gas station/glorified 7-11 has to offer, you know it’s worth the drive.
However, finding a Wawa location isn’t as easy as driving around your local neighborhood. The reason it’s so coveted by fans is that most stores are located in one geographic area—mainly the Mid-Atlantic coast, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., with a few randomly located in Florida (probably for the snowbirds who had to have their turkey sandwich and iced tea fix).
Not an East Coast dweller? Don’t get too upset, because a big change is about to rock your Wawa world. The company announced that its newest Wawalands will expand into Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
“At Wawa, growth means strengthening our existing markets as well as expanding to both adjacent and new markets so we can reach new friends and neighbors and welcome them as part of our extended family,” Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s President and CEO, stated in an official press release on Dec. 7.
“These markets are the perfect places for Wawa to expand based on their strong business communities, their family-like atmosphere, and the confidence that our unique offer and amazing associates will be welcomed by these communities,” he continued.
According to the Wawa website, since the first location opened in Pennsylvania in 1964, the chain has expanded to nearly 1,000 stores in its designated regions.
Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky will join the ranks of states like Tennessee by 2025, which Wawa announced earlier this June, according to The Tennessean.
If that’s too long to wait, the official press release also notes that Wawa stores could be seen in states like Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia as soon as 2024.
If you’re about to waaaaaaah over lack of Wawas in your area, the company encourages folks to reach out with ideas, suggestions, and new market opportunities via their expansion news landing page.
It’s not just the delicious grab ‘n go deli sandwiches (or hoagies, as PA locals call them), soft pretzels, or frozen cappuccinos that make this gas station shop so great. It’s the company’s values that keep jawns (a Philadelphia term of endearment) coming back for more.
Tasting Table reported that the chain has solid roots in social good, “prioritizing good working conditions for its roughly 36,000 employees and fostering a sense of community—values reflected by a customer base that keeps coming back.”
“We have received thousands of requests over the years to spread our wings further west!” John Poplawski, Vice President of Real Estate for Wawa, stated in the press release. “We can’t wait to reconnect with those that know us from existing markets and meet new friends and neighbors come 2025 and beyond!”
In the words of Borat himself, “Wawa-wee-wah!” We’re definitely excited to see where Wawa goes.
Katka Lapelosova