Head’s up, Sheetz. Wawa is Moving in on Your Turf

The Delaware County-based convenience store and gas station chain is planning to open as many as 40 new locations in Central Pennsylvania.

You’ll find the odd Wawa in “Sheetz Country,” mostly in and around the Lehigh Valley and in Berks and Lancaster counties. 

But until now, Wawa has refrained from casting a larger footprint on Sheetz’s turf, as if some gentleman’s agreement exists between the two Pennsylvania-based convenience store and gas station chains (rumors of which are the stuff of Keystone State urban legend).

That’s about to change, as Delaware County-based Wawa recently announced plans to open as many as 40 stores in Central Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River, locations that will fall squarely in the jurisdiction of the Altoona-based Sheetz.

“With a commitment to fulfilling lives, we’re thrilled to continue our growth and expansion in our existing markets to provide quality fresh food, beverages and support to the community,” John Poplawski, Vice President of Real Estate for Wawa, said in a statement. “In addition, Wawa’s continued expansion will mean even more convenience and new jobs in the Central Pennsylvania community.”

Wawa said the first of the new Central PA locations isn’t expected to open until 2024. The York Daily Record reports that Wawa is planning stores for Penn Township (York County) and East Pennsboro Township (Cumberland County).

Currently, Wawa has 17 locations in Berks and Lancaster counties.

According to its website, Wawa has two more stores coming to Sheetz-land before 2024, with a new location due in Lower Nazareth (Northampton County) this summer, and one in Mt. Pocono (Monroe County) in the fall. 

The company has been expanding over the past year, with plans to open stores in North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. There are currently about 965 Wawa stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Sheetz has about 620 locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. 

Sheetz made news this week when it announced some locations would be selling special unleaded gas for as low as $3.49 a gallon through the July 4th holiday.