Convenience store favorite Wawa is hitting the gas on expansion, and Indiana’s up next.
The East Coast giant, known for its cult following and deli-style eats, just announced three new store openings in May, with plans for up to 60 locations in the state over the next few years.
The first Wawa in Indiana will open its doors on May 15 in Daleville, followed by Noblesville on May 22, and Clarksville on May 30, according to WRTV-TV. It marks a major move for the chain, which already operates over 1,000 stores nationwide, most of them in Florida and New Jersey.
“We’re thrilled to bring Wawa’s brand of convenience to Indiana,” said Brian Schaller, president of the company. Wawa leaders expect to open between 8 and 12 stores this year alone, creating around 35 new jobs in the process.
Fans aren’t just excited, they’re obsessed. Some customers reportedly lined up at 4 a.m. to be among the first inside during previous openings. One shopper even told WTOC-TV: “Now I can have the amazing food 24/7.”
Wawa has also made headlines in Georgia, opening its Pooler location near Savannah just last month, with a long-term goal of launching 26+ stores in the state over the next 5 to 8 years. Its very first Georgia store opened in Bainbridge in November 2024.
But it’s not just about growth, it’s about loyalty and buzz. Wawa’s growing fanbase has sparked a fierce debate online: Is Wawa better than 7-Eleven? According to Business Insider, Wawa fans cite friendlier staff, better food options, and a cleaner in-store vibe as key reasons they’re team Wawa. One user on X boldly claimed, “Wawa is 100x better than 7-Eleven.”
That’s a big statement considering 7-Eleven has over 9,000 stores across the U.S. and has dominated the convenience store space for nearly a century. Still, some shoppers say the chain has gotten stale and needs a serious facelift.
The Wawa vs. 7-Eleven rivalry is heating up as Wawa muscles into new markets with an aggressive expansion strategy, and shoppers in Indiana are about to see what the hype is all about. Whether you’re grabbing a hoagie at 2 a.m. or debating coffee loyalty, one thing’s clear: Wawa isn’t playing small.
