The Daily News Top Stories of 2022 #4: 'Very likely' these four sites in Onslow County get a Wawa
The Jacksonville Daily News is taking a look back at the top stories of 2022.
The announcement of three prospective Wawa stores coming to the Jacksonville area made big news in Onslow County last month.
Although the chain has more than 950 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington D.C., there isn't a single Wawa in North Carolina. But that could be about to change.
This story received just over 800 online page views but made a big splash on social media and is the 4th biggest story to hit The Jacksonville Daily News in 2022. Check out the full story, reported by Morgan Starling, below.
'Very likely' these four sites in Onslow County get a Wawa. Here's what we know (published November 21, 2022)
A popular east coast convenience store chain could be coming to Jacksonville, with three prospective projects in the works.
Wawa, an up-scale convenience store chain headquartered in Pennsylvania, offers built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, gas, surcharge-free ATMs and more, according to the chain's website.
But the store offers more than traditional gas station pizza and hot dogs, with their famous built-to-order hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, built-to-order specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.
Although the chain has more than 950 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington D.C., with over 750 offering gas, there isn't a single Wawa in North Carolina.
But that could be about to change. Earlier this year, Wawa announced plans to open its first North Carolina store by the end of 2024.
The city of Jacksonville Planning and Inspections department said there are three prospective Wawa projects currently in talks. Prospective means the city has spoken to developers or seen preliminary drawings but there has been no official submittal.
The three prospective locations are on Trade Street, Carolina Forest Boulevard and Richlands Highway. Jacksonville Senior Planner Jeremy Smith said it is very likely that Wawa does end up in Jacksonville.
"We have a site plan that will be submitted by week's end, and they are going through a Traffic Impact Analysis, which is a considerable financial commitment, so that shows that they are adamant about developing here," Smith said in a November email.
The Swansboro Chamber of Commerce also recently announced that a Wawa will be coming to Swansboro and will be located on the land that was once occupied by the ABC Store and Valvoline near the corner of Hammocks Beach Road and Corbett Avenue.
However, Town of Swansboro Town Manager Paula Webb said plans are not yet set in stone. She said developers have inquired about building a Wawa and are currently going through the process, with a Traffic Impact Analysis next on the list.
The discovery comes shortly after the announcement that Wawa may also be coming to Fayetteville. TheFayetteville Observer reported on Oct. 24 that preliminary plans posted to the county development review site showed a 6,049-square-foot convenience store and gas station in the city of Fayetteville.
The city's Technical Review Committee assessed the plans on Sept. 20 in a preliminary site plan meeting, according to reporting, and is waiting for the company to resubmit site plans for approval.
Two potential sites in the Wilmington area are also being considered for future Wawa locations, according to Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Planning Engineer Scott James.
The city and the N.C. Department of Transportation are working on traffic impact analysis reports for the potential sites, one near the intersection of U.S. 17 and Lanvale Road in Brunswick County and another off South 17th Street and Wellington Avenue in Wilmington.
"According to several media sources, Wawa expansion into N.C. is an effort to be more competitive with Sheetz, so I believe Wawa’s developing here could attract more similar types of developments," Smith said.
Currently, the closest Wawa to the city of Jacksonville is in Franklin, Virginia, about 165 miles away.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: The Daily News Top Stories of 2022 #4: 'Very likely' these four sites in Onslow County get a Wawa
