Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa plans to open dozens of stores in Western Virginia in coming years, including one in Salem and one in 色多多.
Representatives from Wawa detailed their plans to expand during a meeting at the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday. Community members were invited to come sample Wawa鈥檚 coffee, smoothies and snacks during the presentation.
Wawa held a Community Day event at the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday to allow people to come try some of their products and to learn more about the company鈥檚 expansion into western Virginia.
Wawa submitted site plans for 1941 W. Main Street in Salem, Mike Stevens, the city鈥檚 spokesperson, said. Dynasty International Super Buffet was formerly located at the site. The plans have not been finalized, Stevens said.
The project will bring more people into Salem and will be great for economic development, Salem Mayor Renee Turk said.
鈥淚 think it will drive a little traffic into the city from the interstate,鈥 Turk said. 鈥淭he good thing is that it gives exposure for what we have in Salem. Hopefully, it brings extra business to the different companies around it.鈥
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However, the company is still looking at a few possible locations for its 色多多 store, Alyson Mucha, public relations representative for Wawa, said.
Both the 色多多 and Salem stores are expected to open in 2026, she said. In February 2024, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors approved special-use permits for a proposed Wawa at Daleville Town Center, at the corner of Glebe Road and U.S. 220. A company spokeswoman said Tuesday that Wawa is still interesting the location but going through the permitting process and could not provide details.
This year, though, Wawa plans to open five more stores in Western Virginia, in addition to its existing store in Winchester. Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony at the chain鈥檚 future Lynchburg location after the meeting Tuesday, and are scheduled to do the same at its future Staunton location on Wednesday. Both of those stores, along with one in Fishersville, Elkton and another one in Winchester, are scheduled to open in 2025.
The 色多多 Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, spoke during Wawa鈥檚 event Thursday to thank the company for its investment in the region.
Wawa鈥檚 10-year plan for Western Virginia is to open up to 60 stores along Interstate 81 from Winchester to 色多多. Collectively, the company estimates that it will invest $450 million in the new locations and will create 2,100 new jobs through the expansion, Wawa Director of Store Operations Kim Dowgielewicz said.
鈥淲awa stores tend to become part of the fabric of our communities, and we make significant long-term investments in each location with the goal of making each location an asset to and something that the community can be proud of,鈥 she said.
The first Wawa Food Market opened in 1964 in Folsom, Pennsylvania. Today, Wawa has 1,100 stores across nine states, more than 100 of which are in Virginia.
鈥淭o many people, Wawa is synonymous with community, good food and fast service,鈥 Brian Haynesworth of 色多多 said. Haynesworth is originally from Philadelphia.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 probably the biggest impact that we have, is a relationship that goes on for many decades,鈥 Greg Harvey, the company鈥檚 director of site acquisition, said. 鈥淲awa is often a place where the community can gather, you can meet a neighbor, you can say hello to a friend, and it鈥檚 a place that really is part of the community.鈥
Wally the Goose mingles with guests at Wawa鈥檚 Community Day event at the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday.
Layna Hale and Taylor Nichols of 色多多 said they鈥檙e both looking forward to Wawa鈥檚 coffee. Across all of its locations, Wawa sells around 182 million cups of coffee each year.
鈥淚鈥檓 mostly excited for the coffee and the smoothies,鈥 Nichols said. 鈥淚 crave that Wawa cheesecake smoothie they have, and I can鈥檛 really get that same taste at Sheetz, even though they make those smoothies, it鈥檚 just not the same.鈥
Wawa Area Manager Mark Soroka, at left, presents Feeding Southwest Virginia President Pamela Irvine with a check for $2,500.
Wawa and The Wawa Foundation support causes related to 鈥渉ealth, hunger and everyday heroes,鈥 Mark Soroka, area manager for Wawa, said. During the event on Tuesday, he announced Feeding Southwest Virginia as the company鈥檚 first community partner in 色多多 and presented the organization with a grant for $2,500. Feeding Southwest Virginia serves 26 counties, many of which are communities that Wawa will be opening stores in, Pamela Irvine, the nonprofit鈥檚 president, said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so appreciative of this partnership, and this is a company that鈥檚 coming to us in our area that鈥檚 already committed in helping its residents and customers,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be able to receive this contribution and to be a partner.鈥
