Convenience stores are evolving rapidly with the rise of the mega C-store, a giant service, food, and “experience” center.

Wawa’s new 8,000 square-foot travel center in North Carolina is the latest example, writes Nancy A. Shenker for StreetFight.

The Wawa travel center caters to truckers, who expect more these days when they stop to rest or eat.

It has big-rig parking in the lot and high-speed diesel fuel.

Two more locations are planned in the near future, with plans to scale to 1,800 stores by 2028.

Wawa is entering the truck stop competition against Casey’s General Stores, QuikTrip, and RaceTrac, who are also upping their game.

Rewards programs are being set up to create store preferences, instead of making decisions just on fuel price and amenities.

Truck drivers are a lucrative market, and their spending power is often underestimated.  The U.S. trucking industry generates more than $875 billion annually, making these travel centers worth the investment.

Read about the latest convenience store evolution in StreetFight.

First Wawa in West Virginia

Wawa opened its first location in West Virginia on Sept. 25 at 53 Sophronia Blvd., writes Ainsley Hall for The Journal.

As part of Wawa’s traditional new store opening, the first 200 customers received free, limited-edition T-shirts, with free coffee to customers served Sept. 25 to 28. It also hosted the “Hoagies for Heroes” competition with first responders. The winning department got to donate $1,000 to its charity of choice.

Wawa also launched a “Lending a Helping Hoagie” campaign with first-week hoagie sales from the store going toward the Mountaineer Food Bank to help feed people throughout West Virginia.

Read more about the new Wawa store in West Virginia in The Journal.