Wawa to bring host of convenience stores, more than 1,400 jobs to Kentucky

By Chip Hutchieson
Kentucky Today

Wawa, a convenience store chain with 1,060 locations in eight states and Washington, D.C., has announced plans to open approximately 40 stores in Kentucky, including in Boone County, over the next 8-10 years.

Wawa broke ground this summer on its first Kentucky location, which will be near Okolona in Louisville. That store is expected to open in late summer of early fall of 2025.

A groundbreaking has also been held for a site in Nicholasville, and this week it was announced that a store is planned in Bowling Green near the National Corvette Museum.

According to a Wawa news release, the company has more than 15 sites under contract including in Boone, Bullitt, Fayette Hardin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Oldham, Scott, Shelby and Warren counties.

These projected stores are currently making their way through the permitting and approval process, and Wawa will announce specific locations and estimated timing for the first store openings in Kentucky once these processes are complete.

There are plans to open up to 10 locations in 2025, with five additional stores in 2026 and five stores each year thereafter.

Details on Wawa’s growth plans for the Kentucky market were announced at two Community Partnership events on Sept. 26 in Louisville at Lynn Family Soccer Stadium and in Lexington at Old Historic Courthouse.

To build each store, Wawa 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 more than 1,400 new jobs as a result of its expansion.

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