A Sixth Wawa Opens in Kentucky…How Many More Will the Commonwealth Get?

I'm a big fan of a good roadside service center like Love's, Pilot, or Buc-ee's. The funny thing is, the first two don't yield the excitement that the third one does. They would if it were up to me; Love's and Pilot are excellent oases when I'm traveling.

Buc-ee's Excitement Is Contagious

Texas-based Buc-ee's makes people lose their minds when an announcement of a new one opening is made. They're nearly as big as a grocery store, and their souvenir game is top-flight. But nothing in that store puts a bigger smile on my face than those barbecue turkey sandwiches. Come to Papa.

Wawa in Kentucky

Now, if there were a competition between convenience giants, I'd stack this store up against Buc-ee's and enjoy the rumble. Wawa began as a dairy in 1902 in Pennsylvania. In 1964, the first Wawa food market opened. With the 1970s came the arrival of pre-made sandwiches, including what would become the chain's signature, the hoagie.

Ever since, it's been nothing but expansion, and today, people flock to Wawa stores for those hoagies, as well as the other specialty sandwiches. Folks also come for the coffee and the breakfast menu. And, of course, there's the dancing goose.

New Wawa in Kentucky

A new Wawa store is opening this week in Northern Kentucky. It's one of nearly 100 Wawa grand openings in 2026, a celebration of the nation's 250th birthday.

The good news? The company announced in 2024 that 40 Wawa stores had been planned for Kentucky. They should be setting up shop anywhere from 2032 through 2034. The Commonwealth already has a head start on the mission; the new Boone County store will join other Kentucky Wawa locations in Louisville and Lexington.