Later this month, Wawa is opening its first-ever travel center in Hope Mills, North Carolina near Interstate 95. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Wawa is expanding its business model with a new travel center concept.

Later this month, the Philadelphia-area convenience store chain is opening its first-ever travel center in Hope Mills, North Carolina near Interstate 95.

A grand opening is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Wawa Chief Real Estate Officer John Poplawski told Fox 8 WGHP in North Carolina the company believes the 8,000-square-foot center will cater to travelers in the state.

“Not only will our Wawa Travel Center meet the fueling needs of professional drivers, but our store will offer the freshest of food, beverages, conveniences and the friendliest flock of associates, while also remaining a community hub for local friends and neighbors to enjoy.” Poplawski said.

Wawa stores typically range in size from 5,500 to 6,000 square feet.

Wawa said the center will accommodate passenger vehicles and offer high-speed diesel fuel for professional tractor trailer drivers.

It will also feature weigh stations for trucks, free tractor-trailer parking, and a pet relief area.

The travel center is part of Wawa’s $675 million investment in the Tar Heel state. It aims to build about six to eight Wawas a year in the state until it reaches a total of about 90 stores.

Wawa operates more than 1,060 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and Washington, D.C

The first Wawa Travel Center is set to open in North Carolina later this month, welcoming travelers and truckers to a massive layout complete with dozens of fuel pumps, interior and exterior seating and pet relief areas.

The popular Mid-Atlantic convenience chain, with New Jersey roots and 300 locations across the Garden State, has been expanding its footprint across the Midwestern and Southern U.S. states. The latest prototype, located in Hope Mills, North Carolina, will open Aug. 28.

What is a Wawa Travel Center, and will one be opening in New Jersey? Here’s what we know.

What is Wawa Travel Center?

The new Wawa Travel Center boasts more than 8,300-square-feet to serve both truckers and motorists — much larger than the typical range in size from 5,500 to 6,000 square feet. The travel center includes six high-speed diesel fuel lanes and 20 passenger car fuel pumps. Wawa will offer a full lineup of food and beverage options, interior and exterior seating, free tractor-trailer parking, large bathroom, a weigh station for trucks and a pet relief area.

Will NJ get a Wawa Travel Center?

Wawa has not announced any plans to open a Wawa Travel Center in New Jersey. While Wawa began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey, and first opened a store in Philadelphia, the chain has been setting its sights on expanding its footprint elsewhere.

How do I find the closest Wawa to me in NJ?

Wawa has over 1,100 convenience stores across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern and Southern U.S. states, according to a company fact sheet. There are 294 Wawa stores in New Jersey, second to Florida, according to ScrapeHero. To find a Wawa near you, open up the Wawa app or check the online store locator.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.

Convenience store chain Wawa will open the company’s first-ever Travel Center in Hope Mills, North Carolina, later this month.

Wawa announced that the company’s Hope Mills Travel Center, located at 630 Chicken Foot Road, will officially open for business on August 28, 2025.

Wawa called the opening of the first-ever travel center an “historic milestone” in company history.

Amenities at the Wawa Travel Center will include:

8,000 square foot store

Six high-speed diesel fueling lanes

CAT Scale

Free truck parking

Pet relief area

Interior and exterior seating areas

“We are thrilled to pilot this new format in Hope Mills and believe this new travel center model is a great way to bring Wawa to customers while serving a need to the travelers,” said John Poplawski, Wawa Chief Real Estate Officer. “Not only will our Wawa Travel Center meet the fueling needs of professional drivers, but our store will offer the freshest of food, beverages, conveniences and the friendliest flock of associates, while also remaining a community hub for local friends and neighbors to enjoy.”

Wawa is privately-held and operates 1,100 convenience retail stores in twelve states and Washington, DC.

Wawa is opening its first-ever travel center with an 8,000-sq.-ft location in Hope Mills, N.C. (Rendering courtesy of Wawa)

Wawa is piloting a new format as it continues to expand into new markets.

The convenience store chain will open its first-ever travel center on Aug. 28 in Hope Mills, N.C. With more than 8,000 sq. ft. of space, the location will offer Wawa’s signature fresh food and beverage assortment, and interior and exterior seating areas, along with fuel for passenger vehicles and a high-speed diesel fuel court for professional tractor trailer drivers.

The fuel features include six high speed diesel fuel lanes, accepting over the road (OTR) payments, and 20 fuel spots for passenger drivers. Other amenities include a CAT weigh station, free parking for tractor-trailers, restrooms and a pet relief area.

“We are thrilled to pilot this new format in Hope Mills and believe this new travel center model is a great way to bring Wawa to customers while serving a need to the travelers,” said John Poplawski, Wawa chief real estate officer. “Not only will our Wawa Travel Center meet the fueling needs of professional drivers, but our store will offer the freshest of food, beverages, conveniences and the friendliest flock of associates, while also remaining a community hub for local friends and neighbors to enjoy.”

The 2,000 square-foot taproom can be found on the right hand side of the building, on the left hand side, a 6,000 square-foot restaurant is ready to serve up an R & R original menu (pictured).

Photo pulled from the R & R Brewing Kitchen & taproom Facebook page.

R & R Brewing in Clinton is now open!

The long-awaited taproom and restaurant located at 104 Fayetteville St. in downtown Clinton has been two years in the making for the Mount Olive originated brewery.

Since announcing their intention to move into the historical Henry Vann building in 2023, the R & R team has been busy working with local and state historical preservation organizations to renovate the building.

R & R Brewing announced on social media that their grand opening would take place on July 30. Since then, the staff have been getting into the groove of things.

“Initially, we will be open Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. As time progresses and we get our feet underneath us, we’ll be adding Sunday and Monday options to make sure that we provide the most tailored experience to our community,” shared Owner and “Head of Hoperations” Ryan Roberts in a welcome video posted on social media.

The entirety of the first floor of the Henry Vann building, a total of 9,105 square-feet, has been completely renovated and divided into two sections: a taproom side and a restaurant side.

“On the taproom side, we’ll have 20 draft options with a variety of beers that we make ourselves locally in Mount Olive, North Carolina, as well as some cider, some other brand domestics and even non alcoholic craft sodas that we also make,” continued Roberts. “We’ll also be selling wine by the glass of six different varieties, as well as mimosas and other concoctions we may come up with down the road.”

The 2,000 square-foot taproom can be found on the right hand side of the building, on the left hand side, a 6,000 square-foot restaurant is ready to serve up an R & R original menu.

“We’re also excited, for the first time, to bring you guys a full service kitchen. We’ll have shareholders, appetizers, soups and salads, entrees, kids meals and even desserts,” said Roberts.

The kitchen and R & R menu is only available at the Clinton location and features food such as deviled egg flight, the “Cluck around and find out” chicken sandwich and the “R & R Hammock Nap Burger.” Signature entrees include “The Piggly Peach” pork chops, shrimp and grits and more.

“Here at R & R, we’re going to be doing quick service instead of wait service. So, whenever you want something, you can just come right up to the taproom bar, or the ordering counter and order food or beverages on either side,” continued Roberts.