Wawa Takes Wraps Off First Travel Center

With more than 1100 standard-size convenience stores under its belt, Wawa (Wawa, Pa.) has decided to “go bigger” in select markets by opening so-called travel centers that cater not only to locals and passenger-car travelers, but also to truck drivers. The chain has just opened the first such locale in Hope Mills, N.C.

“We’re thrilled to premier the new Travel Center format in Hope Mills and bring Wawa’s fresh food, beverages and convenience to local customers while serving a need to the community, travelers and professional drivers,” said Wawa President Brian Schaller. “This historic milestone kicks off the next chapter of our growth as we debut a new store format and prepare to bring it to additional locations in Ohio and Indiana in the coming months.”

With more than 8000 square feet of space, the center offers fresh food and beverages, interior and exterior seating areas and what the chain describes as “well-appointed restrooms.” Other amenities include a CAT weigh station, free parking for tractor-trailers and a pet relief area.

The site’s fuel offerings include 20 spots for passenger cars and six high-speed diesel lanes for trucks.

Wawa, which is employee owned, did not disclose the specific locales of its upcoming travel centers planned in the two states mentioned earlier, nor how many it expects to open over time. The move puts the company into a sector whose major players include Pilot Flying J (740-plus locales), Love’s Travel Stops (550) and bp-owned TA, TA Express and Petro Stopping Centers (300).