Wawa Opens First Wilmington Area Store on Friday, May 29

Wawa’s first Wilmington-area store opens Friday, May 29, giving Topsail-area fans, skeptics, and the Wawa-curious a nearby chance to see what the hype is about.

The new store is located at 6800 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington, near Carolina Beach Road and Myrtle Grove Road. For readers in Hampstead, Scotts Hill, Surf City, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge, North Topsail Beach, and Topsail Beach, this may not be a quick lunch run – but it is close enough for a Wilmington errand, beach-route detour, or first look before Wawa gets closer to the Topsail area.

Wawa has confirmed the Wilmington store on its official grand openings page, and WECT reported that the Carolina Beach Road location opens to the public on Friday, May 29.

Why Locals Care

Wawa is not just another gas station to its most loyal fans. The brand has built a strong following around made-to-order hoagies, fresh coffee, breakfast items, snacks, drinks, fuel, and a store experience that feels more like a quick-service food stop than a traditional convenience store.

That is part of why every Wawa rumor seems to travel fast in Hampstead, Scotts Hill, and the broader Topsail area. A confirmed Wawa location in Scotts Hill has already moved through local development channels, and the possible Wawa near Sloop Point Loop Road and U.S. 17 has added even more attention to the brand’s local expansion.

Friday’s Wilmington opening gives the Topsail area an early chance to try the food, see the layout, and decide whether Wawa is worth the hype before the brand becomes more familiar along the U.S. 17 corridor.

How To Get There

The new Wawa is located at 6800 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington. From the Topsail area, most drivers will head south toward Wilmington, then continue toward the Carolina Beach Road and Myrtle Grove Road area.

For Hampstead and Scotts Hill residents, this is likely more of a Wilmington-side stop than a routine weekly run. If you are already headed toward Monkey Junction, Carolina Beach, the hospital area, or south Wilmington, it becomes an easy add-on.

What To Expect

First-timers should expect a convenience store built heavily around food and drink. Wawa promotes its Built-to-Order hoagies, fresh coffee, lunch, dinner, and more, with ordering available for pickup or delivery through Wawa’s digital ordering tools.

Inside, the experience usually centers on touchscreen ordering, grab-and-go food, coffee, drinks, snacks, and fuel. The biggest difference for first-time visitors is that Wawa tends to feel less like “gas station food” and more like a fast, repeatable food stop that happens to also sell gas.

What To Try First

If you are making a first Wawa run, these are the easiest places to start:

• Built-to-Order Hoagie: The classic Wawa starting point. Italian, turkey, ham, meatball, and chicken cheesesteak-style options are common first picks.
• Breakfast Sizzli: A grab-and-go breakfast sandwich that regulars often pair with coffee.
• Fresh Coffee: Coffee is a major part of Wawa’s identity, especially for commuters and early-morning stops.
• Mac & Cheese: A simple comfort-food side that shows up often in fan conversations.
• Seasonal Items: If limited-time items are available, Wawa fans often treat them like part of the experience.

Wawa vs. Sheetz

Because Sheetz already has a presence in the region, the Wawa comparison is unavoidable. Both chains have loyal followings. Both lean into made-to-order food. Both are far beyond the old-school gas station snack model.

The honest answer is that both chains have their people. If you like Sheetz because it feels like a late-night food menu with a gas station attached, Wawa may feel more focused. If you want coffee, a hoagie, breakfast, and a fast stop that feels consistent, Wawa is probably worth trying at least once.

Wawa Fan Gear

The Wawa fandom is real enough that branded coffee, shirts, hoodies, hats, tumblers, stickers, and novelty items are easy to find online. For anyone already leaning into the Wilmington opening, a few easy places to start include Wawa coffee, Wawa shirts, and vintage Wawa hoodies.

That may be overkill for a first visit, but for longtime fans, the first Wilmington-area opening is a good excuse to have a little fun with it.

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What It Means For Topsail

The Carolina Beach Road store is the first major local test of how Wawa lands in the Wilmington market. For Topsail-area residents, it is also a preview of what could become a more regular stop as additional stores move through construction, planning, and local approval processes.

For now, the takeaway is simple: if you have been wondering what all the Wawa hype is about, Friday gives you a reason to find out before the brand gets even closer to the Topsail area.