Buc-ee's facts for kids
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The Buc-ee's convenience store in New Braunfels, Texas, United States claims to be the third largest convenience store in the world.
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| Private | |
| Industry |
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| Founded | 1982 |
| Founders | Don Wasek Arch "Beaver" Aplin III |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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47 |
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Area served
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United States |
| Products | Fuel, convenience food, etc. |
Buc-ee's is a famous chain of stores in America. They are known for being huge gas stations and convenience stores. You can also find electric vehicle chargers there. The company was started by Arch "Beaver" Aplin III. Its main office is in Lake Jackson, Texas.
Buc-ee's began in 1982 in Clute, Texas. Their first big travel center opened in Luling, Texas, in 2003. Later, in 2018, Buc-ee's started opening stores outside of Texas. Now, you can find them in states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. More new stores are planned for other states too!
These stores are famous for their massive size. They offer lots of different things. You can get fuel, yummy snacks like beef jerky and candy, and fresh brisket sandwiches. They also sell baked goods, tacos, souvenirs, and travel items. Buc-ee's holds the record for the world's largest gas station. This record was set in June 2023 by their store in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Buc-ee's is also well-known for having super clean bathrooms. Their mascot, a friendly beaver, is very popular. Another interesting rule is that big 18-wheeler trucks are not allowed at their locations. This helps keep the parking lots safer and less crowded for regular cars. Many people love Buc-ee's, and it's often ranked as one of the best gas stations in the country. In 2012, their bathrooms even won an award for "Best Restroom in America"!
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The Story of Buc-ee's
The founder, Arch "Beaver" Aplin, opened his first store in Clute, Texas, in 1982. He came up with the name Buc-ee's in a fun way. "Beaver" was his childhood nickname. He also named it after his Labrador Retriever dog, Buck. Plus, he liked the cartoon beaver mascot from Ipana toothpaste.
Buc-ee's grew bigger over time. In 2003, they opened their first large travel center in Luling, Texas. This was a big step for the company.
Record-Breaking Stores
In 2012, Buc-ee's opened a huge travel center in New Braunfels, Texas. It was on Interstate 35. This store was once the biggest convenience store in the world. It was about 68,000 square feet!
But on June 26, 2023, a new Buc-ee's opened in Sevierville, Tennessee. This new store became the world's largest convenience store. It is even bigger, at 74,707 square feet! The New Braunfels, Texas, store also won an award in 2012 for having the "Best Restroom in America."
After growing a lot around Greater Houston and Central Texas, Buc-ee's opened its first store in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area. This happened in Terrell, Texas, on June 22, 2015. Another store in the Dallas–Fort Worth area opened in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 23, 2016. It is located near the Texas Motor Speedway. A third DFW store opened in Denton, Texas, on October 29, 2018.
Growing Outside Texas
Buc-ee's started to look for places to build stores outside of Texas. On April 12, 2017, they announced plans for their first store outside Texas. This store was going to be in Daytona Beach, Florida.
However, there were some delays. So, the first Florida store actually opened in St. Augustine, Florida, on February 23, 2021. The Daytona Beach store then opened on March 22, 2021. This was an exciting time for Buc-ee's as they expanded to new states!
Where to Find Buc-ee's Stores
As of December 2023, Buc-ee's has 47 stores open. You can find them in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In January 2024, they announced that their first store in North Carolina would be opening soon!
| State | Number of Stores |
|---|---|
| Texas | 34 |
| Alabama | 4 |
| Florida | 2 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| Tennessee | 2 |
| Kentucky | 1 |
| Missouri | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
What You Can Find at Buc-ee's
Buc-ee's travel centers offer a huge variety of products and services. They are much more than just a gas station!
Delicious Food and Snacks
Every Buc-ee's store has a bakery, a brisket and fudge bar, and a big snack aisle. You can also find soda, coffee, and Icee stations. The stores have walls filled with many kinds of candy and beef jerky flavors. There's even a special beef jerky bar!
Some popular food items include:
- Cookies, kolaches, and pastries from the bakery.
- BBQ brisket sandwiches and breakfast tacos.
- Cold-cut wraps and sandwiches.
- Packaged fruit and vegetable cups.
You can also buy general snack foods, ice cream, and Dippin' Dots. They have lots of drinks like water, soda, energy drinks, and alcohol. Buc-ee's even makes its own snacks. The most famous one is "Beaver Nuggets," which are flavored corn puff snacks. They are the company's best-selling product!
Souvenirs and Cool Stuff
Besides food and drinks, Buc-ee's sells many fun souvenirs. They also have general merchandise, often with a regional theme. The chain has its own clothing brand. You can find t-shirts, hats, pants, plush toys, swimwear, and blankets.
The stores also sell kitchen items like cast iron skillets, food containers, mugs, and cookbooks. You can buy coolers and thermoses too. General travel products and phone accessories are also available. Some locations even sell hunting gear and outdoor items like grills.
Fueling Up Your Car
All Buc-ee's travel centers have a lot of gas pumps. They usually have between 80 and 120 pumps! You can get different types of fuel, including unleaded and diesel. Some stores also offer ethanol-free fuel.
Tesla Superchargers
In November 2021, it was announced that Tesla would add Superchargers at 26 Buc-ee's locations. These chargers help electric cars power up quickly. As of February 2023, many of these Superchargers are already working. You can find them in states like Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Car Washes
As of March 2024, seven Buc-ee's locations have car washes. Five of these are in Texas, one is in Alabama, and one is in Tennessee. The car wash in Katy, Texas, is especially famous. It holds the record for the longest car wash in the world! It is 255 feet long.
