Liberty Township, Ohio — Wawa, Inc. has named April 16, 2025 as the grand opening of the first Wawa store in the state of Ohio, kickstarting the retailer’s expansion into the Midwest. Located in Liberty Township, Ohio, this is the first of 8-10 Wawa stores slated to open in Ohio by year’s end. Not only does this grand opening date mark Wawa’s debut in its 10th state, but it coincides with the founding date of the first Wawa store that opened on April 16, 1964 in Delaware County, Pa.
“We are excited to fly into Ohio and bring our unique combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience and service to this state for the very first time,” says Brian Schaller, president of Wawa. “This historic milestone kicks off our ongoing growth and expansion in Ohio as we continue to build new stores and create new jobs.”
Wawa projects opening 8-10 stores in the Buckeye State in 2025. Over the next 5-8 years, Wawa plans to build and open 6-10 stores per year in Ohio, with expectations to open up to 60 stores in the state. Wawa expects to create 2,100 long term new jobs as a result of expansion in Ohio.
Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa., in 1902. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 in Pennsylvania as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Washington, D.C., with over 1,100 locations to date.
SOURCE: Wawa, Inc.