Wawa has officially made its debut in North Carolina — and it’s only getting started. The beloved East Coast convenience chain, famous for its hoagies and coffee, plans to open up to 90 stores across the Tar Heel State over the next decade.
Wawa’s first North Carolina stores
Wawa opened its first-ever North Carolina location in Kill Devil Hills in May 2024, marking the start of an aggressive statewide expansion. As of late 2025, the company has around 15 stores open, including a new large-format travel center in Hope Mills, which combines gas pumps, truck parking, and a full food and beverage menu.
A 90-store plan
Wawa aims to build 6 to 8 new stores per year, with an investment of more than $7 million per site. Each location employs between 30 and 60 team members once open, plus more than 100 construction and contracting jobs during development.
By the end of this year, Wawa expects to have 20 stores open or under construction.
And in 2024, it upped its 10-year plan to 90 stores (it was originally 80 stores) in North Carolina.
Why North Carolina?
North Carolina checks all the boxes for Wawa’s growth strategy — strong population growth, busy commuter routes like I-95 and I-40, and plenty of markets that haven’t had direct competition from similar convenience brands.
The company’s signature mix of made-to-order food, fresh coffee, and fuel has proven to attract loyal fans across the Mid-Atlantic and Florida. Now, Wawa hopes that same formula will work in the Carolinas, too. (You can see the difference between Wawa and Buc-ee’s here).
What’s next?
Wawa says it’s in North Carolina “for the long haul.” With 90 planned stores, the brand is poised to become one of the state’s fastest-growing convenience chains — bringing thousands of jobs and plenty of hoagies along for the ride.
Bottom line: North Carolina’s convenience scene is about to change fast — and Wawa is leading the charge.
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