Wawa breaks ground on its first location in Kentucky near Okolona

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Wawa has broken ground on its first Kentucky location near Okolona.

Mayor Craig Greenberg, other dignitaries and Wawa mascot Wally the Goose on Wednesday morning helped turn symbolic shovels of dirt on Preston Crossing Boulevard, just south of the Gene Snyder Freeway.

Wawa plans to open the location in late summer or early fall of 2025.

As part of the groundbreaking, the Wawa Foundation gave $10,000 to Dare to Care and God's Pantry Food Bank.

The chain also held a groundbreaking in Nicholasville on Wednesday to mark the company's expansion in to the Lexington area.

John Poplawski, Wawa's vice president and chief real estate officer, said the company is best known for its "amazing and craveable" food and customer service.

"Each Wawa location is a $7.5 million investment that will create 35-40 jobs in that store," Poplawski said.

He said Louisville is a good fit for Wawa.

"The reception we've received from day one, it was time for us to bring the Wawa flight plan here to Louisville — here to the Midwest," Poplawski said.

The family-owned chain has more than 1,050 convenience retail stores operating in eight states and Washington, D.C. It said it plans to open about 40 stores across Louisville over the next eight to 10 years.

Wawa plans at least nine locations in Kentuckiana in 2025 and then add about five to eight each year following. Currently, four additional locations are planned for the Louisville area: