Soon enough, there will be Wawas in Kentucky as the company sweeps its Delaware County brand into more states with plans to invest $280 million for 40 stores in the bluegrass state, writes Eleanor Tolbert for Louisville Business First, as reported in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The over 200-year-old company now has nearly 1,000 locations in seven states, with a goal to double its store count to 1,800 by 2030. It’s the most aggressive growth in the company’s history.

This is its first migration into the Midwest.

“It just represents such a unique opportunity to fill a void in our brand that just doesn’t exist, said Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens. “When we look across Kentucky, we look across your adjacent states here, there’s just not anything, we think, that’s like Wawa.” 

Brian Schaller, president of Wawa, said about $280 million will be invested in the Kentucky expansion, about $7 million per store.

The first store will break ground in 2024 and will open in 2025. The goal is for 10 stores that year, with five stores added each year after.

The Kentucky stores will have a new design with wood and warm tones for the exterior.

Find out more details about Wawa sweeping its Delaware County brand into the bluegrass state in the Philadelphia Business Journal.