A popular Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain could make its way to Centre County in the near future.
Wawa confirmed to StateCollege.com on Wednesday that it is exploring plans to establish new stores in the State College area. While company spokesperson Lori Bruce declined to confirm specific timelines or locations, it anticipates setting up shop in Centre County as soon as 2025.
“Over the years, we have received thousands of requests to expand into this market, and with so many Penn State students and community members coming from existing ‘Wawalands,’ we knew this was the perfect place to spread our wings,” Bruce wrote in an email.
Bruce said Wawa is currently working on site selections and land development processes. Those plans would need to be approved before any State College-area stores could move forward.
“…We couldn’t be more excited to bring Wawa’s unique brand of convenience to Happy Valley!” Bruce wrote
Plans for Wawa expansion across the country have continued in recent years, and interest in central Pennsylvania persisted in June when the company said it was exploring potentially opening up to 40 stores in the heart of the Keystone State.
“With a commitment to fulfilling lives, we’re thrilled to continue our growth and expansion in our existing markets to provide quality fresh food, beverages and support to the community,” said John Poplawski, vice president of Real Estate for Wawa, in a June press release. “In addition, Wawa’s continued expansion will mean even more convenience and new jobs in the central Pennsylvania community.”
Should the convenience store chain indeed expand to Centre County, it would join an arms race of sorts between several establishments in the area, including Sheetz and Rutter’s. The latter recently announced plans to build a second local store along Blue Course Drive in State College, while Altoona-based Sheetz has long dominated the local market with 10 Centre County locations.
Founded in Delaware County in 1964, Wawa operates nearly 1,000 convenience stores and gas stations across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Florida, and locations in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky are on the way, too. Its made-to-order menu includes fresh coffee and hoagie sandwiches, among newer offerings like quesadillas and paninis.
