Wawa Paves the Way in New State

Convenience store brand Wawa, which has a large food and beverage offering, celebrated the official start of construction on its first two stores in Georgia on March 7.

“It’s official—Wawa is coming to Georgia, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share details of our exciting growth plans with our newest soon-to-be neighbors,” says Robert Yeatts Sr., director of store operations for Wawa, in the release.

Wawa’s first two Georgia stores will open later this year in Brunswick and Jesup. Overall, the brand aims to open 26 stores in southern and coastal Georgia over the next five to eight years, opening three to four stores per year. Along with Brunswick and Jesup, it has sites under contract in Hinesville, Pooler, Waycross, Bainbridge, Tifton, Valdosta and Albany.

To build each store, Wawa says it will 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 almost 1,000 long-term new jobs as a result of expansion in Georgia.

Wawa operates nearly 1,000 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Learn more about FER’s MUFES session featuring Wawa’s Michelle Walsh in “9 Takeaways From MUFES 2024.”