WAWA, PA — Wawa, the family-owned convenience retail chain with over 1,040 stores across six states and Washington, D.C., is extending its reach to Georgia. The company kicked off construction on its first two Georgia stores located in Brunswick and Jesup on March 7. The events served as a formal introduction of Wawa to the community, unveiling expansion plans, and welcoming VIP customers, local officials, and charity partners.
“It’s official – Wawa is coming to Georgia, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share details of our exciting growth plans with our newest soon-to-be neighbors!” said Robert Yeatts, Sr. Director of Store Operations for Wawa.
In keeping with its commitment to community involvement, Wawa announced contributions to its first Georgia community partners – the Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia and the USO Georgia, with initial grant awards totaling over $10,000 to support local initiatives.
At the groundbreaking events, attendees received a sneak peek at Wawa’s initial plans for the market, which include opening the Brunswick and Jesup stores in late 2024 and hosting groundbreaking events on May 1 for new stores in Hinesville and Pooler.
Over the next 5-8 years, Wawa aims to build and open 26 stores in southern and Coastal Georgia, opening 3 to 4 stores per year. This expansion represents an investment of approximately $7.0 million per store, employing an average of 140 contractors and local partners for each build. Once open, each store will employ an average of 35 associates, with Wawa expecting to create almost 1,000 long-term new jobs as a result of its Georgia expansion.
Wawa’s growth in Georgia also presents numerous career opportunities. The company prides itself on being part of a longstanding tradition of success that spans decades, hundreds of stores, multiple states and counting. Wawa associates own 39% of the company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), underscoring its commitment to putting people first and making every day a little bit brighter for its communities.
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