The US convenience store, travel center, and Texas-themed gas station, Buc-ee’s, is expanding.
The popular chain which has earned a cult-like following for beaver-themed merchandise, fresh barbeque, and ever-pristine bathrooms, has opened a number of new locations recently. But Buc-ee’s has even more planned openings this year and through 2031.
On June 22, a new Buc-cee’s arrived just outside of Phoenix. The opening marked its first Arizona store and its most western location yet. Earlier this year, the travel chain popped up in Huber Heights, Ohio, and last year, in Johnstown, Colorado.
Where are the planned openings?
Buc-ee’s, which features freshly prepared barbeque, along with sweet treats, like beaver nuggets (caramel-coated corn puffs) and fudge, is still gnawing its way across the country. According to what a Buc-ee’s representative told USA Today, the chain will open three more locations this year. The first will open in San Marcos, Texas on July 27, followed by one in Benton, Arkansas on Aug. 17. Finally, a Buc-ee’s will come to Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Nov. 16.
The expansion won’t stop there, however. In 2027, the company will add stores in Ruston, Louisiana; Kansas City, Kansas; Gallaway, Tennessee; St Lucie, Florida; Boerne, Texas; and Monroe County, Georgia. And in 2028, Buc-ee’s will head to both Mebane, North Carolina and Lafayette, Louisiana.
The chain’s 2029 plans include locations in Ocala, Florida; West Memphis, Arkansas; and Oak Grove, Kentucky. And by 2031, Buc-ee’s plans to open a location in Hardeeville, South Carolina, too.
Why is Buc-ee’s so beloved?
If you’re thinking, “that’s a ton of Buc-ee’s stores!,” you’re not wrong. But the chain, which currently has 56 locations across 13 states, is already known for being an iconic southern pit stop. Not only does it provide fresh food, which can be tough to find when you’re on the road, it also functions as a kind of mini amusement park that families have come to enjoy and even make a part of their travel plans.
Additionally, Buc-ee’s is also known for being an affordable stop for gas. “Buc-ee’s makes low prices because they are a large volume seller of gasoline, but also because they make much better margins on their merchandise and food inside the store,” Professor Michael Webber, Sid Richardson Chair in Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, recently told Chron.
Interestingly, even though Buc-ee’s customers can’t get enough of the chain, the Better Business Bureau recently gave the chain an F rating. The organization said it received around 90 complaints over things like overcharging and customer service. But the real reason it received an F rating was due to the fact that the chain didn’t respond to a single one of them.
Either way, Buc-ee’s loyal patrons, who never fail to make it a part of their road trips, aren’t likely to be phased. And given that finding affordable gas is currently a challenge, that alone may be reason enough to stop off at the Texas-themed chain whenever possible.
