Tennessee is finally getting Wawa, and the first store is only the beginning. The Pennsylvania-born convenience chain known for hoagies, coffee, and fresh food is joining the wave of beloved regional chains expanding into new states with a major Volunteer State rollout.
The first Tennessee Wawa is scheduled to open Thursday, June 18, at 1290 Parkway Place in Clarksville, off 101st Airborne Division Parkway near Peachers Mill Road. The Clarksville store will mark Wawa’s expansion into its 14th state and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wawa is also hosting a “Taste of Wawa” preview event in Clarksville on June 17, the day before the grand opening, with Tennesseans invited to share their favorite Wawa memories for a chance to attend.
This is not a one-store experiment.
Wawa plans to open up to seven Tennessee locations by the end of 2026, according to NewsChannel 5. Other industry reports have put the number at six new Tennessee stores this year, but the broader plan is clear: Wawa wants more than 50 stores across the state over the next decade, with a total investment of about $375 million. A second Tennessee Wawa is already under construction in Murfreesboro and is expected to open in the second half of 2026.
That makes the Clarksville opening a major first step — and one that has been a long time coming. Wawa first announced its Tennessee plans in 2022 and originally targeted a 2025 opening, putting the actual debut about a year behind the original timeline.
For Tennessee customers, Wawa brings a different kind of convenience-store experience. The chain is known for made-to-order hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, specialty drinks, pizza, burgers, soups, sides, snacks, fuel, and a loyal fan base that treats Wawa like more than a place to grab gas.
The company is also making a big local investment. Wawa has said each Tennessee store represents more than $7.5 million in investment and uses about 140 contractors and local partners during construction. Once open, each store is expected to employ about 35 workers. Across the full Tennessee expansion, the company says it could create roughly 1,750 long-term jobs statewide.
Clarksville is a smart place to start.
The city sits about 50 miles northwest of Nashville and near Fort Campbell, giving Wawa access to military families, commuters, road-trippers, and fast-growing Middle Tennessee traffic. The store also arrives as Clarksville continues to attract new retail, restaurant, and housing development.
But Wawa will not be entering an empty market.
Tennessee already has established convenience-store players, including national chains and regional competitors. C-Store Dive noted that Wawa will face competition from brands such as Circle K, Speedway, and Twice Daily in Clarksville.
Still, Wawa has built its reputation by making convenience feel like a food destination. Its fans do not just talk about gas prices. They talk about hoagies, coffee, touchscreen ordering, seasonal drinks, and whether a new Wawa makes a town feel like it has officially joined the club.
For Tennessee, that club opens June 18.
And if Wawa’s 10-year plan holds, Clarksville may soon look like the first stop in a much bigger statewide takeover.
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