It's here! Wawa breaks ground on first North Carolina store
Wawa, a popular Pennsylvania-based chain of convenience stores with an enthusiastic following, is opening their first North Carolina store.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place Friday morning in Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks.
Other locations are planned for other NC cities, including Wilmington, meaning Wawa could soon expand through the state.
The new store is expected to open next year.
As part of the groundbreaking, Wawa donated $3,000 to Special Olympics NC. The company plans to be a regular supporter.
"Wawa has been a longstanding partner of Special Olympics in six states and DC so we are thrilled they will bring their dedication and support of Special Olympics to our athletes in North Carolina!," said Keith Fishburne, president and CEO of the non-profit. "Having Wawa as a new partner will help Special Olympics in North Carolina expand our sports competitions and trainings, young athletes, healthy community, and unified champion schools programs.”
What is Wawa?
Wawa convenience stores are known for carrying fresh, built-to-order foods and beverages, as well as coffee, gas, ATMs, hoagies, soups, sides, snacks and more.
The brand is named after the word 'Wawa,' which is an indigenous American word for the Canada Goose that was found in the Delaware Valley over 100 years ago, according to their website.
Our original Dairy farm was built on land located in a rural section of Pennsylvania called Wawa," their website says.
Wawa fans and travelers along Interstate 95 are loyal to the 24-hour, build-your-own menu of sandwiches and coffee drinks and the clean bathrooms. It is an intensity of feeling often reserved for sports teams that is described in the mockumentary "Sheetz vs. Wawa: The Movie."
Fans go ga-ga for Wawa
If you're born and raised in NC, you may not yet be familiar with Wawa.
Similar to Trader Joe's and Wegmans, the chain is known for their unique brand and excellent customer experience. It draws an active and engaged customer base that are passionate about the brand.
One fan exclaimed on Twitter upon hearing the news: "My life is complete. This is the BEST news!"
"We couldn’t be more excited to bring Wawa’s one-of-a-kind brand and offering to this market in the near future. We look forward to serving the community with our quality fresh food and beverages and, as always, our deep commitment to the communities in which we operate," said Lori Bruce, Wawa public relations manager.
Wawa has about 900 locations, most of them with gas, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. but to date had skipped over the Carolinas.
