Wawa celebrated a milestone in its Midwest expansion Thursday with the grand opening of its 10th store in Ohio, located at 4260 Hamilton-Middletown Road in Liberty Township.
Company leaders, local officials, first responders and residents gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration that included a parade highlighting Wawa’s history and the chain’s signature “Hoagies for Heroes” hoagie-building competition honoring everyday community heroes.
During the event, the Wawa Foundation presented a $2,500 grant to Special Olympics Ohio to support programs for local athletes.
“This milestone reflects the warm welcome we’ve received from our friends and neighbors in Ohio,” said Brian Schaller, president of Wawa. “Opening our tenth store in Liberty Township — where we launched our first Ohio location last year — allows us to serve more communities while strengthening our partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations.”
Rapid growth across Ohio
Since opening its first Ohio store in April 2025, Wawa has expanded to eight cities across five counties. Each location employs an average of about 35 associates, creating more than 350 long-term jobs as the company builds its presence in the state.
Wawa and The Wawa Foundation have also contributed more than $37,000 to community organizations as part of grand opening celebrations across the state, according to the company. Beneficiaries include Special Olympics Ohio, United Service Organizations, Freestore Foodbank, The Foodbank, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Dayton Children’s Hospital.
The “Hoagies for Heroes” competitions held at store openings have also raised $20,000 for local charities, with first responders competing to build the most hoagies in two minutes.
Long-term plans
Wawa’s growth in Ohio is expected to continue. The Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain plans to open five to eight stores per year over the next five to eight years, with a long-term goal of more than 60 locations statewide.
Each new store represents an investment of about $7.5 million and typically involves around 140 contractors and local partners during construction, according to the company.
The Liberty Township location marks the latest step in Wawa’s broader expansion into the Midwest, as the retailer continues to bring its combination of fuel service and made-to-order food offerings to new communities across Ohio.