Wawa opens first Wilmington-area store, plans major North Carolina expansion

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A popular convenience store chain based in the Philadelphia area has opened its first location in the Cape Fear region, marking the company’s latest step in its expansion into North Carolina.

Wawa held a VIP celebration Thursday at its new store in the 6800 block of Carolina Beach Road ahead of its official opening Friday. The event drew hundreds of invited customers, along with local officials and company representatives.

Attendees were given early access to the store and sampled a variety of food and beverage items, including hoagies, mac and cheese, meatballs, coffee drinks and smoothies. Company mascot appearances and a ceremonial first hoagie preparation were also part of the preview event.

Wawa Director of Store Operations Joe Collins said the company plans to build roughly 90 stores across North Carolina in the coming years, including several in the Wilmington area.

“We’re very, very serious about North Carolina,” Collins said during the event. “We already have 10 sites under contract just for Wilmington.”

The company has previously said it expects to open about six to eight stores annually in the state as part of its long-term growth strategy.

State Rep. Deb Butler participated in the ceremonial first hoagie preparation during the event.

Among those attending was Wilmington resident and Wawa enthusiast Bennet Dunlap, who said the store’s food offerings are central to its appeal.

“Wawa is a food store that sells gas, not a gas station that sells food, great hoagies, great snacks,” Dunlap said. “It’s a community,” his wife Kimball added.

The Wilmington location is part of a broader expansion effort by Wawa, which has operated for more than 60 years and is adding stores across the Southeast.

Company officials say additional North Carolina sites are already under contract as the chain continues its regional growth.