NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Another gas station chain — this time a Southern staple instead of a Northern import — has its sights set on the Cape Fear.
A representative from RaceTrac, a 90-year-old convenience store brand with locations across the South, has confirmed the chain is pursuing a potential store investment in Wilmington. If it comes to fruition, it would be the first RaceTrac in North Carolina.
“It is so early in the planning stages that we don’t have further information to share at this time,” a spokesperson said.
Internal emails from Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization staff, responsible for conducting traffic impact analyses on proposed developments, revealed a draft scope has been submitted to the agency.
The document indicates 20 vehicle fueling positions and a 3,500-square-foot store are planned for a site along U.S. Highway 421 north of Sutton Lake Road, about one mile northwest of the I-140 interchange.
Access to the development is proposed via two driveways: one full movement access and one right-in/right-out access on U.S. Highway 421. Based on the proposed land use, initial estimates note the site will generate 4,016 daily trips, with 322 (161 entering, 161 exiting) during the morning peak hour and 368 (184 entering, 184
exiting) during the evening peak hour.
The scope draft notes approximately 75% of these are pass-by trips — not considered new trips generated by a development, but rather existing traffic making detours along the route. As a result, only 78 primary trips are estimated in the morning peak hour and 92 during the evening peak hour.
The project is proposed to be constructed in a single phase and completed by 2025.
The RaceTrac proposal comes in the wake of a gas station boom regionally, spurred by announcements from Wawa, Royal Farms, Circle K, Sheetz and 7-Eleven over the last two years alone. Wawa alone has announced 10 stores in the Cape Fear, though none have been completed as of yet.
Below are updates on the known gas station chains that are coming to the area.
Wawa
In May 2024, Philadelphia-based convenience store announced its plans for 10 stores across New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties after several locations were revealed to be in the works or speculated to be so.
The following New Hanover County locations were announced:
- South 17th St. and Wellington Avenue
- 6800 Carolina Beach Road
- 9021 Stephens Church Road
- 4113 U.S. 421
- 7375 Market St.
- 5400 Oleander Drive
Only two locations have been approved by their respective governing boards: a construction release has been issued for S. 17th St. and Wellington Ave., while the 6800 Carolina Beach Road was approved by the county on Oct. 18, 2023 and is still in the permitting process.
The county also approved a Wawa at the new Scotts Hill Medical Center at 9010 Scotts Hill Medical Drive on Nov. 15, 2023. It is still in permitting.
Wawa announced it had plans for a store along U.S. Highway 421, however, a representative from the county said the planning department is not aware of a gas station proposed for that address.
As for the store planned for 7375 Market St., the county received an application on Feb. 3, 2025, for a gas station south of that address that is currently under review. If the application is determined to be complete, it will be on the county’s March 5 Technical Review Committee agenda.
The City of Wilmington confirmed that no application for the 5400 Oleander Drive location has been submitted. At the county, there has been no submission for 9021 Stephens Church Road.
Royal Farms
The Maryland-based company has had numerous locations rumored in the works, including one at the former Hops Supply Co. on Oleander Drive and Azalea Inn and Suites on Market Street.
However, Royal Farms has two approved locations in New Hanover County at 1824 and 5224 Castle Hayne Road, though the county’s building activity portal shows the latter’s review has expired. The other is still in the permitting process.
A Royal Farms has also been rumored for Old Dairy Road. County spokesperson Alex Riley told PCD the department is aware a gas station might be proposed on Old Dairy Road near Market Street, but they cannot confirm the brand. He also said the site is within City of Wilmington limits, but city spokesperson Lauren Edwards said the city had not received any applications.
Sheetz
There are two Sheetz locations in the works and two approved in the county, all of which will follow the recently opened first location on Shipyard Boulevard.
The county approved locations at 6401 Carolina Beach Road on Oct. 18, 2023, and 4915 Carolina Beach Road on June 19, 2024.
Sheetz plans to join U.S. Highway 421; the project is currently undergoing a traffic impact analysis before it heads to the county planning board.
In the city, another Sheetz is planned at 6629 Market St. An application was submitted to the city on Nov. 26, 2024. The plan is to redevelop the existing outparcel of Market Plaza with a new 5,200-square-foot convenience store.
Circle K
Two Circle K’s have been planned and submitted to the city for review, one at 1618 Dawson St. and another af 4500 Market St.
7-Eleven
A 7-Eleven is planned for 4828 Holly Shelter Road. The project is currently working on a TIA. No applications have been submitted for county TRC review at this time.
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