Wawa, Central Florida’s newest gas-and-convenience phenomenon, plans to debut its third local store this week — and has started construction on four new stores.

Pennsylvania-based Wawa Inc. on Aug. 1 will hold the grand opening of its first Osceola County store at 2184 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, third of five Wawa stores scheduled to debut in metro Orlando this summer.

Meanwhile, the retailer on July 24 announced construction had started on four new stores.

The stores that started construction were:

• Northwest corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Piedmont-Wekiwa Road in Apopka

• Northwest corner of State Road 50 and Chickasaw Trail in east Orange County

• Southeast corner of State Road 436 and Auvers Boulevard in Winter Park

• Southwest corner of State Road 535 and Poinciana Boulevard in Osceola County

The retailer — which specializes in made-to-order sandwiches and smoothies — has a built-in cult following of northerners who have moved to Central Florida and craved their beloved coffee and hoagies.