Wawa, RaceTrac Eye Daytona Beach for Growth

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Wawa Inc. and RaceTrac Petroleum Corp. hope the Daytona Beach area is not just famous for beautiful weather, golf and auto racing. According to a report by The Daytona Beach News-Journal, both convenience store chains are looking to add stores in the popular tourist destination.

Pennsylvania-based Wawa is eyeing a property at 1031 Dunlawton Ave., which would be its first in the Volusia-Flagler County region. The convenience store would replace the current Asian Fusion buffet restaurant.

Meanwhile, Atlanta-based RaceTrac is pursuing two Daytona Beach properties. One is located at the southeast corner of LPGA and Williamson boulevards. The other store would tentatively be located at the northwest corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Belville Road.

Both c-store retailers need multiple approvals from local authorities to build stores on these sites.

RaceTrac is additionally preparing to begin construction on a new Deltona, Fla., gas station and convenience store, the news outlet reported.

Both Wawa and RaceTrac have set their sights on Florida for growth. Wawa initially opened several Sunshine State stores in Orlando and Tampa last year. Recently, however, CEO Chris Gheysens said Wawa would look beyond those markets.

"When we think of Florida, we think of the state," Gheysens told CSNews Online in an exclusive interview earlier this month. "We have our eyes already set well beyond Orlando and Tampa."

The chief executive also said Wawa wants to create "what we have in the Northeast down in Florida."

Meanwhile, RaceTrac targeted the Tampa area by recently opening 11 stores in the region. Now, the operator of more than 350 stores in the Southeast is focused on expanding beyond this region as well.

Both Wawa and RaceTrac officials were unavailable for comment regarding the News-Journal story.