North Carolina’s first Wawa opens May 16 in Kill Devil Hill
North Carolina’s first Wawa opens May 16 in Kill Devil Hills
The long-awaited arrival of Wawa convenience stores to North Carolina will happen next month in Kill Devil Hills.
The Pennsylvania-based chain has announced the doors will open at 1900 North Croatan Highway on Thursday, May 16, at 8 a.m., with a ribbon cutting to take place at 10 a.m.
“We can’t wait to open our doors to our new North Carolina friends and neighbors and are excited for the chance to serve new customers and communities with our unique brand of fresh food, beverages, and convenience,” said Kim Dowgielewicz, Director of Store Operations.
Other festivities and announcements about additional community partnerships and support for local organizations and celebrate local everyday heroes with its signature “Hoagies for Heroes” initiative.
Last May, the chain that has an almost cult-like following officially broke ground at the corner of U.S. 158 and Fourth Street in Kill Devil Hills, with construction ramping up in November.
The 6,000 square foot store, 8 gas pumps, and 52 parking spaces are located in the milepost 6.5 area of the bypass, which has been a buzz of building since 2021, when Target began renovating the old Kmart and then opened last year across the highway.
Construction is nearing completion on a Sherwin-Williams paint store south of Wawa, and continues on the White Cap Auto Spa drive-thru car wash to the north of Truist Bank.
And on the east side of U.S. 158, more units are going up for Fifth Street Cottage Court, which will feature 11 three- and four-bedroom cluster homes, along with a pool and pool house.
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1964 and based in Chester Heights, Penn., Wawa now has 1,000 stores in Virginia, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Florida. Along with North Carolina, Alabama will also be coming into the flock in 2024.
The stores have an almost cult-like following of their large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as custom-prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages, and an assortment of soups, sides, and snacks.
Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #24 of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2021, #12 on Forbes 100 Halo List in 2022, #1 in the convenience category of Newsweek’s “America’s Best Retailers” list; and Forbes’ List for America’s Best Companies for Veterans.
Their location just off the Chesapeake Expressway in the Edinburgh section of Chesapeake has become a popular stopping point for Outer Banks travelers and commuters.
The visitor market of the Outer Banks matches that of Wawa’s traditional footprint, and the number of the stores they have located in the Hampton Roads area also played a factor in locating the first N.C. stores in the northeast corner of the state.
Construction will begin soon on a Wawa store in Elizabeth City that is projected to open in the third quarter of 2024, with specific dates available this summer, according to a press release.
Current plans call for a 6,049-square-foot building, 48 parking spaces, eight gas pump islands serviced by three underground tanks, new sidewalks along Ehringhaus Street and Halstead Boulevard and a new landscaping plan, The Daily Advance reported.
Construction is also underway on locations in Wilson and Rocky Mount.
Company officials have been tight-lipped about a Moyock store, and have neither confirmed nor denied they are examining their options for a store on N.C. 168/Caratoke Highway.
Wawa plans to build at least 80 stores across North Carolina markets over the next decade, with the first 8 to 10 stores opening this year, and up to 15 stores opening in 2025.
The company also announced they will host Community Partnership events in Wilmington, Jacksonville and Fayetteville on May 14 and 15 and share plans for the next phase of expansion into those North Carolina markets.
“As each location opens, we will further solidify our commitment to providing the community with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner,” Dowgielewicz said.
To build each store, Wawa said they invest approximately $7 million and employ, on average, 140 contractors and local partners.
Once open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates, with Wawa expecting to create more than 2,800 new jobs as a result of its expansion into North Carolina.
