KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — Wawa's first store in North Carolina is now open for business.
The new location is on the Outer Banks and opened its doors Thursday morning at 1900 N Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills.
Wawa hosted a grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with festivities, announced partnerships, and a celebration of local heroes with its "Hoagies for Heroes" initiative. Additionally, the first 250 customers received free t-shirts.
“We can’t wait to open our doors to our new North Carolina friends and neighbors and are excited for the chance to serve new customers and communities with our unique brand of fresh food, beverages, and convenience,” said Kim Dowgielewicz, Director of Store Operations, in a press release ahead of the grand opening.
Wawa plans to build at least 80 stores across North Carolina over the next 10 years with the first eight to 10 stores opening in 2024. About $7 million is required to build each store, and employ about 140 contractors and local partners.
Each store will employ an average of 35 associates. Wawa expects to create more than 2,800 new jobs as a result of the expansion.