More hoagies on the way: Wawa eyes second Lexington location on north side
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wawa seeks a second Lexington site at 1170 Newtown Pike in Haymaker plan.
- Planned store includes eight gas pumps and entrance from private Nandino Lane.
- Company projects local build costs, contractor use and job growth across Kentucky.
Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store with a cult following for its coffee and sandwiches, is hoping to open a Lexington location on Newtown Pike.
This is the second location that has been announced in Lexington. Another is also planned for 4075 Old Richmond Road across from Jacobson Park in a new Anderson Communities development, coming next year. The area’s first Wawa opened earlier in September in Nicholasville; another is planned for that city as well.
The Newtown Pike location would be part of a new development coming from Haymaker Co., working with Tennessee-based developer Hutton.
According to plans filed with the city, the Wawa will be built at 1170 Newtown Pike in a new development along the Legacy Trail bike and walking path, on about 13 acres of former farmland just outside New Circle Road along Nandino Lane, a private road.
A public hearing on a requested zoning change for the development is scheduled for Dec. 18.
According to the map filed with the city, the Newtown Pike store will have eight gas pumps and the entrance will be off Nandino Lane.
Josh McCurn, director of business development and communications for Haymaker, said the group recently filed its development plans with city officials. It’s not clear how long it will take to get those plans approved.
McCurn said the location, which is also near Interstate 75 and Interstate 64, is ideal for a new Wawa and a four-story hotel.
“It’s a great site and a great location,” McCurn said.
Wawa, which has a fervent following in other parts of the country, will likely be a draw for travelers and locals alike.
“They are known for their hoagies and excellent service,” McCurn said.
Haymaker said in a news release they are “actively working toward a landmark acquisition that would mark Wawa’s second location in the city of Lexington, Kentucky.”
“We are excited to fly into Kentucky and bring our unique combination of fresh food and beverage, convenience, and service to the city of Lexington, Kentucky,” said Brian Schaller, president of Wawa, in the release. “This historic milestone continues our ongoing growth and expansion in Kentucky and throughout the Midwest as we continue to build new stores and create new jobs.”
Hutton would coordinate the project, its fourth Wawa in Kentucky, with additional locations in the works. No other locations were identified in the release, but Wawa has previously said it plans to open about 40 locations in Kentucky.
Wawa is a privately held chain of more than 1,000 convenience stores, most with gas pumps, across the East Coast and expanding into the Midwest.
On average, Wawa spends more than $7.5 million to build each store and typically utilizes more than 140 local contractors. Once stores open, an average of 35 people are employed at each location. By the time the chain’s 40 locations open, Wawa expects to have created 1,400 jobs across Kentucky.
