Last week, Wawa broke ground on a new location that company leaders said marks the beginning of an expansion in central Pennsylvania, reported CBS News.

“It's official—Wawa is spreading our wings to reach Central Pennsylvania, and we couldn't be more thrilled to share details of our exciting growth plans with our newest soon-to-be neighbors!” said Wawa president Brian Schaller in a news release.

Over the next five years, the retailer plans to open 40 stores in the area, which the company expects will create 1,400 jobs.

“Our Community Day and groundbreaking events gave us the opportunity to meet new faces and share a little bit about our history and what makes Wawa such an ideal fit for communities here. We are thrilled to break ground on our first store in the region, launch our expansion plans and get closer to our first grand openings in 2024,” Schaller said.

Wawa currently has over 1,000 stores across New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., but has announced plans to open roughly 240 stores in the next eight to 10 years in new states.

In October, Wawa released details about its expansion into the eastern region of North Carolina. The company plans to open 80 stores across the region, with the first eight stores set to open in 2024.

In Kentucky, the company plans to build approximately 40 stores across the state, with construction beginning in mid-2024.

The company also plans to expand its footprint in Ohio, with plans to open over 60 stores in the state. Wawa has 16 sites under contract, and construction is expected to begin in mid-2024.

In Indiana, Wawa also plans to build approximately 60 stores across the state with construction beginning in mid-2024. The first store locations are projected to open by mid-2025.