Popular Travel Center Coming to Kentucky

When I'm driving to Nashville, I never miss an opportunity to stop at Love's in White House TN. I guess you wouldn't call it an appointment pitstop, but I WILL save bathroom and snack breaks for the occasion.

Certainly you're familiar with Love's; stores dot the landscape from coast to coast, and they are STOCKED with brands and snacks I don't see at the others. And they're huge. But, then again, I've never made a secret of my love for roadside markets like that. Go all the way back to the 70s and you'll find my family searching tree lines looking for a Stuckey's sign rising above it.

It wasn't until recently that I realized I'm not the only one who enjoys a good travel center. I'm talking about the news of Buc-ee's coming to Kentucky and the excitement that generated. Well, it's time for that excitement to reach a fever pitch yet again.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY, WAWA...EVENTUALLY

Wawa, a popular chain of travel convenience stores, is expanding beyond its U.S. East Coast footprint into the Commonwealth. Based in Wawa PA--because, of course--the high-traffic markets can also currently be found in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington DC. In fact, there are TONS of locations in Florida.

And if you're like me, and you weren't familiar with Wawa until recently, welcome to the club. We are VERY late.

But the chain goes back much farther than that...try 1964. That's when the first one opened in Folsom PA. In fact, the Wawa name goes all the way back to 1803, to its origins as an iron foundry. This is one sturdy company.

And it has at least one big fan Kentucky hoops fans know very well.

WHERE'S THE CLOSEST WAWA

After checking the store's locator, I realized that this move to Kentucky is quite an inroad for the chain; the closest one to my current location is Charlottesville VA. That's nearly 605 miles and about a 9-hour drive, give or take. I know folks drive long distances to visit Buc-ee's, but that's a bit much.

But in 2025, neither you nor I will have to drive that far at all. That's the target year for Kentucky's first Wawa, a chain that offers everything you'd expect from a roadside travel center--groceries, meals, gifts...you name it. It also has a convenient app and curbside pickup. Talk about convenience while traveling.

I have yet to visit the Buc-ee's in Richmond, but if I wait long enough, I'll have to double up my trip. Welcome to Kentucky, Wawa.

(And yes, you HAVE to say it out loud.)

[SOURCE: WCPO-Cincinnati]