Wawa Sets Sights on Sunshine State

ORLANDO -- Last fall, a Wawa spokeswoman told CSNews Online that any move into the Sunshine State was still two years away. Now it seem the move into Florida is picking up speed.

According to the Orlando Business Journal, the convenience store operator is planning to open 100 new stores in Orlando and Tampa. Brian Pomykacz, regional real estate manager for Wawa, told the news outlet that the company has inked 10 leases in the Orlando area over the past eight months.

The retailer is eyeing mid-August or early September to begin site work. Construction is expected to begin in early 2012 with some openings slated for next summer, Pomykacz said.

In the Tampa area, Wawa is scouting both vacant land and existing stores at busy intersections along the Interstate 4 corridor, the news outlet reported.

Currently the Pennsylvania-based convenience store operator has locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia -- the furthest south the retailer has yet to venture.