It's no secret that in the midwest, we are all about our gas stations. It's just a way of life in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I mean, we all have our favorite items from Kwik Trip and go there religiously day in and day out. It has even won national awards, and was recently voted one of the best workplaces for 2025 Another major gas station that has love nationwide on the same level is Buc-ee's I have been to one before in Texas and I can attest that it is amazing They are famous for their elaborate stores, filled with unique snacks, merchandise and apparently, the cleanest bathrooms in America (according to a 2012 study). The famous chain is going big this year, opening a handful of new stores nationwide. This includes the first Wisconsin location in Oak Creek. I smell a road trip in our future It is about a six hour drive but worth it to get some famous Buc-ee's treats. According to Finance Buzz, there are thirteen other locations opening across the country I've tried manifesting a Minnesota Buc-ee's location before, even coming up with the perfect spot for it but it looks like we are out of luck this time around. Minnesota will not be getting its first Buc-ee's, at least not right now. I will try to be happy for the remaining cities that are getting a Buc-ee's this year: Fingers crossed they announce more openings for the near future and we finally get a beloved Buc-ee's in our neck of the woods Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins The chain is opening their first Wisconsin location later this year.\nRead More It's no secret that in the midwest, we are all about our gas stations. It's just a way of life in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I mean, we all have our favorite items from Kwik Trip and go there religiously day in and day out. It has even won national awards, and was recently voted one of the best workplaces for 2025 Another major gas station that has love nationwide on the same level is Buc-ee's They are famous for their elaborate stores, filled with unique snacks, merchandise and apparently, the cleanest bathrooms in America (according to a 2012 study). The famous chain is going big this year, opening a handful of new stores nationwide. This includes the first Wisconsin location in Oak Creek. I smell a road trip in our future It is about a six hour drive but worth it to get some famous Buc-ee's treats. According to Finance Buzz, there are thirteen other locations opening across the country I've tried manifesting a Minnesota Buc-ee's location before, even coming up with the perfect spot for it but it looks like we are out of luck this time around. Minnesota will not be getting its first Buc-ee's, at least not right now. "It's my favorite place to stop while traveling by car." reader Jim Ratliff told In the Know great snacks and the cleanest restrooms on the planet Buc-ee’s is sort of like the gas station version of what you’d see if Walt Disney World and Costco had a child On the other side of the beaver nugget, there's concerns, too, with the 74,000-square foot travel center and its 120 fuel pumps on 27 acres "Their food is better than Love's truck stop, but that's the bar they are measured against," said St. James City reader Dane Anthony "Overrated garbage that will contribute to making the interstate take longer to get to for those that actually live in the area." Here's what you're saying about the proposed Buc-ee's at the Harborview Road exit of I-75 north of the Peace River that would require rezoning by the Charlotte County Commission the latest on Ave Maria and new plans for a private Naples hotel club offering sushi Some reading the In the Know columns on Buc-ee's had the simplest reaction like readers Greg Fischer's "Nice," Sergio Vazquez's "Yes And then there's readers Ryan Matson's "Overhyped," Dona Knapp's "Go somewhere else" and Janice Cuff's "We don’t need that junk." Not to be confused with music duo Jan and Dean raised environmental worries on "this monster" they described as " just another Walmart except with more gas pumps and junk food." Particularly unsetting for them: Its construction in the proposed West Village off Harborview that is part of a “Coastal High Hazard Area,” which means potential hurricane surge and concerns of "all those underground gasoline tanks and pumps under a couple feet of salt water." "I have seen the sprawling concrete mass of a Buc-ee's," Cape Coral reader Jason Snyder said other than at Sam's or during hurricane hoarding "All 120 pumps will be full, with people waiting," said retired Naples Fire Battalion Chief Tim Witherite you would be amazed: Their gas prices are on the low side and people will pull off the interstate in droves to get gas there." "Let's not think about rezoning a quiet area of Charlotte that will not improve anything except huge traffic jams and unnecessary heavy traffic "I'm thinking instead of focusing on new projects how about focusing on the old projects ― maybe repairing the fishing piers?" "It's a flood zone," said reader: Mark Ellman "The roads can't handle all that extra volume of cars." "I don’t understand the appeal of Buc-ee’s," reader Stefanie Peters said "It’s like a theme park and a gas station convenience store had a love child." but never any place to sit and eat," said reader Barbara Alexander "Not that big a deal ― bathrooms are clean "I'm driving an hour just to go to this," Naples reader Sha-King Owens said "Keeping my fingers crossed," said Fort Myers reader John Gershkoff Folks posting on social media, such as our company's Facebook pages and a major topic was Buc-ee's usual 200 or so full-time positions with benefits that include a 6% matching 401(k) retirement setup and three weeks paid vacation: "Those burritos are enough for me to work for them," said Arcadia resident Judi Cross "I’ve seen people pushing back on the Buc-ees," said Greater Sarasota Chamber Vice-President Edward B I 100% want this," Punta Gorda resident Jeff Baker said "I know it’s hard to watch us grow," reader Lynn Eckerson Kromer said "but this can be a good thing for job opportunities." Even Buc-ee's fans have their limitations when it comes to location"Ugh as much as I love Buc-ees," Charlotte County resident Deja Sessa said "I’ve lived in Harbour Heights on the river for close to 30 years," said Charlotte County resident Marjorie Benson Cannot imagine what the traffic at the currently convenient (exit) for I-75 will be like." "If they’re going to overdevelop this area might as well go big," Englewood resident Cyndi Sterling said What is an alternative spot for Buc-ee's in Southwest Florida?"Come to North Port we have the land," said resident Duane LaFollett "Why would you not want a Buc-ee's in your backyard ― it's a nice treat." "It would be nice to have one in our backyard," said North Port resident Kathleen E Leepart "Bring the beaver to the harbor," said Port Charlotte resident Kris Pirillo similar to Venice resident Michele Theriault Maroulis' "Bring the damn beaver." There were parallel refrains please." And Charlotte residents Matthew McGuire's "Love Buc-ee's ― bring it," Keri Walsh's "Bring it ― look forward to it" and Jacque Hunter's "Yes What's next step on potential SW Florida land for a Buc-ee's?With the planning board's support of the rezoning and other facets tied to the Harborview undertaking that would then help pave the way for Buc-ee's to submit a formal request to build its destination that also sells products such as its signature beaver nuggets sweet corn puff snacks and its magical wall of meat jerky While Buc-ee's is still in the preliminary stages in the northern part of Southwest Florida, another major project just wrapped up on the southern end in Ave Maria with the April arrival of the final tenants for its new Midtown Plaza in the form of NCH Immediate Care and UMami Asian Fusion Restaurant Dunkin' and the burg's first hardware store As Ave Maria surpasses 5,000 home sales, national brands arriveA significant milestone, Collier County's Ave Maria surpassed the 5,000 mark last year in home sales with build out targeted at up to 11,000 units on its 5,000 acres “We are excited to have brought national brands to Ave Maria,” said Cee Cee Marinelli vice president of commercial real estate for Barron Collier Companies “As Ave Maria and eastern Collier County continue to grow we now have the population base to support new business opportunities.” which was torn down last year near Pine Ridge Road and U.S according to the McCabe family who are cultivating the 2.5 acres purchased for $8 million Where will you be able to select from $1 million wine collection?Besides access to the 70-unit hotel's 22,000-square-foot wellness center the club would feature an all-day dining and entertainment venue in addition to the 100-seat The Dining Room serving nightly dinners and weekend brunch The goal is for The Champagne Bar to offer the finest bubbly paired with sushi and crudo while the McCabes plan to stock The Wine Cellar with a $1 million collection along with private wine lockers for members and the speakeasy Jetlag would serves craft cocktails in a retro-aviation environment In the Know: 'Mind-boggling' Buc-ee's looking at SW Florida riverfront location. What's it planning? With an architectural goal complementary to nearby Pelican Bay's grandeur, The Carnelian is named for a stone that royalty and the affluent have treasured for centuries to not only demonstrate a family's wealth but offer physical and spiritual protection to the wearer “Sterling’s Club is really the most exciting part because we are catering to our local community," said Gulf Coast Commercial Corp.'s Philip McCabe "We’re creating a world where our members can focus on mind and body longevity enjoy remarkable experiences and build meaningful connections all under one roof.” Fire storm: With major surge in hurricanes impacting Lee County, apartments now offer 'sustainability' Pre-construction fees for one card-holding member sit at a $95,000 initiation and $9,500 in yearly dues The opening of the first-ever Buc-ee's in Arizona is underway and the new travel center will break ground in just a few short days First founded in Texas in 1982, Buc-ee's is known for its beaver mascot "the world's cleanest bathrooms," cheap gas and homemade barbecue The Valley location will occupy 74,000 square feet including 120 fueling positions and bring more than 200 full-time jobs to the area The starting pay will be well above minimum wage a 6% matching 401K and three weeks of paid vacation Customers will be able to find thousands of snack “We could not have picked a better location for our first store in the Grand Canyon State," Stan Beard Buc-ee’s Director of Real Estate and Development "Perfectly placed for our road-trippers headed out to California or coming in for the destination-rich Phoenix area Buc-ee's is a travel center founded in Texas in 1982 The locations are also massive with the one in Arizona expected to be 23% larger than a football field Why is Buc-ee's so beloved? Here are 10 reasons the travel center is different from all others The first-ever Buc-ee's travel center in Arizona will be located at 1001 N Arizona Buc-ee's groundbreakingThe Buc-ee's Arizona groundbreaking will be held on Wednesday Mayor Joe Pizzillo and City Council members Wally Campbell A representative for Buc-ee's shared with The Arizona Republic that the Goodyear location will be open in June 2026 Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Bluesky @dinakaur.bsky.social Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today Also coming soon: This Missouri-based frozen cocktail bar is coming to Arizona. What we know is your neighborhood reporter San Patricio and Aransas County Texas — May.2nd at buc days is dedicated to the military and their families They get a behind the scenes experience at the professional bull riding.  "We're waiting to get autographs with cowboys and I'm so excited,” Noah Ramirez said.  At his young age Noah appreciates the cowboy lifestyle Noah and his parents got tickets to PBR from the United Service Organizations a non-profit supporting military and their families "I just care about actual cowboys because they have the rope and they rangel bulls horses and anything they can get their ropes around,” Ramirez said.  Ruben Ramirez served in the Navy for over 20 years he can do fun things like this with his little boy "It’s my first time at Buc Days but not for Noah,” Ramirez said.  his family and others a part of the military I finished my service last year and she is about to wrap up,” Scott Carroll said “I'm in my last few months being in the military so we're taking advantage of all these military events,” Rachel Gardner said.  They had the opportunity to meet PBR’s cowboys It's how the buccaneer commission says thank you for your service May.3rd.  The rodeo kicks off May TX— The City of Corpus Christi has prepared a list of road closures and parking restrictions associated with the Buc Days Carnival and Rally Night Parade The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the Buc Days celebration The Buc Days Celebration requires additional street closures for the Rally Night Parade Residents will be restricted from parking or viewing from the Leopard Street bridge and side streets intersecting with the parade route The following streets will be closed from 4:00 p.m between Nueces Bay Boulevard and Palm Drive between Comanche Street and Leopard Street between Antelope Street and Leopard Street between Antelope Street and Mestina Street ·         Shoreline Boulevard (south side) For more information on Buc Days and to view a complete schedule of events, please visit www.bucdays.com Call 311311 Website Landline Callers: 361-826-CITY (2489) Subscribe to receive the latest information from the City of Corpus Christi Subscribe Texas — The gates are officially open at the 87th annual Buc Days Festival games and scholarship opportunities to the community features carnival attractions for all ages "It's something we enjoy as a family and my little ones are finally tall enough to get on the rides," Angel Aguilar said From spinning rides to towering attractions the carnival offers something for everyone "You know those rides when you spin around and it makes you feel dizzy," Genesis Talavera said Six-year-old Romeo Aguilar is taking in all the excitement the carnival has to offer I wasn't scared but I was shocked," Aguilar said the Buc Days Commission remains focused on its educational mission and opportunities for Corpus Christi and South Texas students we distributed $300,000 in scholarships to the community," Buc Days Commissioner Mark Avelar said This year's festival has expanded its robotics competition these teams actually compete for cash prizes that go to fund their programs for next year," Avelar said Every dollar spent at the Buc Days Festival contributes to scholarship funding The festival runs through May 11. Click here for tickets Texas — The 87th Buc Days Festival officially kicks off Thursday Each and every year the known and loved festival continues to grow and this year is no different “ If you haven't been to Buc Days in years better each year,” Buccaneer Commission volunteer Mark Avelar said they’re introducing a new STEAM convention meant to help students and teachers learn more on how they can improve science And with that comes an even bigger robotics competition The 4,000 kids competing can be as young as elementary and old as high school all competing for cash prizes to go towards their STEM programs That’s something neighbors said they’re proud to watch happen in their backyards “It’s very good that we are funding our future We have to do everything we can to give them all the resources they have in order to succeed in this world,” Jonathan Robles said Buc Days is also having their first ever Barbecue Showcase on Saturday pay a single admission and you get to try a bunch of very different popular vendors and restaurants in town and eat til your hearts contempt,” Avelar said the rodeo (which starts Tuesday) brings bull riding competitions and country music along with it But there’s always different acts for the whole family to enjoy We have family and faith night with MercyMe playing next week,” Avelar said they of course have to stick to some tradition and that starts Thursday with dollar carnival night “We’re offering dollar rides and dollar gate admission Thursday Great opportunity to bring the family for a great value,” Avelar said The carnival is something that neighbor Sebastian Cauvillo is most excited for He’s been going for the past three years with his friends and hopes to invite more this year “I do plan on going to the carnival with my friends My favorite part is seeing my friend’s reactions on the rides while we’re in the air watching them scream,” Cauvillo said Buc Days will also have a petting zoo and live entertainment inside the Exhibition Hall at the American Bank Center neighbors are welcome to check out all the shops at Treasure Island All proceeds from the Buc Days festival will go towards education scholarships for area students the Buccaneer Commission awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships and are excited to see that number grow with the help of the community Catch all the KRIS 6 News stories and more on our YouTube page (AP) — Popular mega-chain Buc-ee's has reached a settlement agreement with Kansas City-owned Duckees Drive Thru ending a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit filed last November known for its massive travel centers and beaver mascot Missouri-based Duckees of using similar spelling and a cartoon character in front of a yellow circle with a dark black border Terms of the settlement were not disclosed Duckees had argued it had prior use under Missouri law and was operating in a geographically remote area The company also claimed Buc-ee's was using the lawsuit to unfairly restrict trade in violation of antitrust laws District Court for the Western District of Missouri directed Buc-ee's to file a notice of dismissal by Oct in 2023 and is building its first Kansas City area location in Kansas City as part of its strategic growth into the Midwest market Buc-ee's sued a Gladstone-based dog trainer operating as Barc-ee's The business announced its closure on Facebook April 17 highlighting the impact of Buc-ee's trademark enforcement actions Buc-ee's continues rapid expansion across multiple states with 50 locations now operating nationwide Its highly-anticipated first Mississippi location is scheduled to open June 9 The company is actively pursuing new locations in Wisconsin demonstrating its ambitious coast-to-coast expansion strategy new locations are planned for Harrison County Here are nine things to know about what's in the works Those remain the only two on the Peninsula Buc-ee's operators say they want to construct a Southwest Florida version that would easily surpass their current state locations in size by close to 40% Founded in 1982, bulky Buc-ee's features an embraceable beaver with a ballcap as its mascot, typically 120 or so gas pumps and the "cleanest" bathrooms in America as part of its convenience store glory or what the company calls a "travel center." Every Buc-ee's has a wide variety of meat jerky taking up a wall like the signature Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets (similar to caramel popcorn) It has its own fudge counter where it makes more than 20 types including including blueberry cobbler plus the usual varieties of chocolate and caramel Even home decor and clothing are part of the inventory "There is an interest from Buc-ee's for the West Village," said Benderson attorney Derek Rooney of GrayRobinson making the project more marketable and more available to be developed under today's standards and needs." Based on architectural sketches In the Know requested the expanse could have room for more than 850 vehicles between the pumps the vacuuming and washing slots and parking places that include those for the disabled or with electric vehicles The schematics that received the county planning and zoning board's backing show a parking stall ratio of one for every 90 square feet of building area in the southwest corner of the exit Asked by the In the Know if it would serve as his most immense Buc-ee’s national director of real estate and development said it would be among the giants in an exclusive club: "The Port Charlotte store is no larger than our other 'large store' locations Depending upon how the jurisdiction measures Port Charlotte will be plus/minus 74,000 square feet." Spreading more than 75,000 square feet, the Buc-ee’s in Luling, Texas is "the largest Buc-ee’s location in the country," Beard said the colossus replaced the original built in 2003 Commissioners will be considering other village aspects including "specific landscaping requirements" and up to three 100-foot tall signs at the exit with at least one of them with a beaver potentially perched at the top with the words "Port Charlotte," according to public documents the 650 acres of the villages would include about 3,850 housing units in the north and east sectors 350 hotel rooms and more than 700,000 square feet in overall commercial and office space Talks of developing the property date to at least 1992 with commission discussion back then and numerous concepts have been floated over the decades In the Know: 'Mind-boggling' Buc-ee's looking at SWFL riverfront spot. What's it planning? How do residents feel on targeted Charlotte County Buc-ee's?While the chain has a cult-like following those who live near the site have concerns and my grandson loves to go there for the barbecue but it's not for a community like ours," said Sharon Brandt noting "the traffic I have seen at Buc-ee's using the gas pumps ― if you can get to a gas pump without standing in line." Fire storm: With major surge in hurricanes impacting SWFL now offers 'sustainability' With the planning board's support of the rezoning and other facets tied to the Harborview undertaking May 27 gathering of the County Commission in Room 19 of its Port Charlotte administration building Whether Buc-ee's ends up eventually being part of it all it's just wait and see on how the process evolves the long-awaited popular Texas-based gas station chain Buc-ee's has broken ground in Saline County Arkansans brought the highest groundbreaking turnout in the franchise's history This location is the first for the state of Arkansas creating 250 jobs for the local community and bringing more people to Central Arkansas According to the Benton A&P Commission the facility is estimated to bring in just over a million in revenue with an estimate of over three million visitors each year "Oh my goodness I think this is the most exciting thing to happen to Benton in a while," said City of Benton Mayor Tom Farmer "It will bring them down and into Benton and we hope that when they do that they say this is a pretty nice community this feels like home I want to move here.” new big chain restaurants have been confirmed to set up shop in Benton Saline County Judge Matt Brumley said this is just the beginning "We are already seeing evidence of that of people putting their flag down and saying we are going to make this location our home," said Brumley "You are going to see more and more of that Not just at the location where Buc-ee’s is but throughout Saline County.” Beaver Aplin said Arkansas was a great choice “I love the state of Arkansas," said Aplin "I have a lot of friends here and I think we are very like-minded We do great in the south and I don’t think Arkansas will be any different Aplin said construction has already started and they estimate September 2026 as the completion date The Buc-ee’s franchise has 50 locations up and running across the U.S there are still more stores on the horizon Buc-ee’s has opened up locations in two cities here in the Sunshine State The first one to open its doors was in St. Augustine back in 2021, though the second opened only a short time later in Daytona Beach Yet another store is slated near the Florida border in Georgia But the company apparently still has plans to expand within Florida You can find the details about these upcoming stores below This location was originally set to be the largest Buc-ee’s ever — though that title was usurped by a Texas store that opened last year the upcoming Marion County store is planned to be 74,000 square feet making it a behemoth compared to many other Buc-ee’s locations It’s being built near Interstate 75, north of Ocala. And it’s also a big motivator for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who discussed the travel store chain when talking about a request for funding the nearby interchange on Northwest 49th Street “I get pitched on a lot of things, right? I mean, it just goes with the job,” he said back in February the person briefing DeSantis reportedly told him that by funding the interchange they would be able to have the upcoming Buc-ee’s right there off the exit to I-75 The Ocala location is scheduled to open sometime in 2025 this is the fourth location planned to open in Florida Site plans unveiled last year show that this store is set to open north of Fort Pierce likely on the southeast corner of the I-95 Indrio Road interchange Earlier this year more news came out showing that the gas station may feature up to 120 gas pumps and 778 parking spaces though few details about this site have been released so far During the same news conference where DeSantis discussed the I-75 project he also claimed that a new Buc-ee’s is coming to the state capitol this Buc-ee’s store is planned to be built off Interstate 10 near Tallahassee which he said will “revolutionize driving on I-10.” Per the Tallahassee Democrat the Tallahassee store is slated to bring in around 200 new jobs and the travel center itself could span 75,000 square feet which would even overtake the gargantuan Ocala location In the meantime, stay up-to-date with the latest Buc-ee’s news by clicking here Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group — A man is dead after police say he fired several shots at officers carjacked a vehicle from the Buc-ee's parking lot in Calhoun and led authorities on an interstate chase into Whitfield County This all began at the Buc-ee's at 601 Union Grove Road in Calhoun Thursday morning at 4 a.m. according to a release from the Calhoun Police Department Police responded to the store after a report of a domestic dispute police say the man fired several shots at the officers behind him police say the suspect carjacked a vehicle from the parking lot and drove off A subsequent release from the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office says deputies caught up with the carjacked vehicle on Chattanooga Road near Exit 366 The chase resumed after the suspect failed to stop The release says the suspect "fired a weapon several times at Whitfield County deputies from the vehicle." but remained on his tail for about 3 miles the release says the suspect lost control of his vehicle and crashed they saw that the suspect had shot himself in the head Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect A pup-friendly Missouri business is closing its doors and starting anew after gas station and convenience store chain Buc-ee's sued the company for copyright infringement Barc-ee’s announced the closure on April 17 on Facebook calling it a “bittersweet update” and a “new beginning.” According to the company a new business will be opening its doors and selling bubble tea “They will be popping up over the next 90 days,” the company wrote “Right from the drive-thru at the place formerly known as Barc-ee’s … The fight’s not over The closure comes after Buc-ee’s filed a lawsuit in mid-March against the company lawyers for Buc-ee’s argue that the Barc-ee’s trademark copies parts of the convenience store and gas station chain's font and logo Lawyers for Barc-ee’s and Buc-ee’s did not immediately respond to requests for comment on April 24 Read more: Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo. This isn't the first time Lawyers argued in the lawsuit that Barc-ee’s used the same “curving word style” that Buc-ee’s uses in addition to a logo similar to the chain's well-known cartoon beaver logo lawyers for Buc-ee’s said the pup-friendly company has adopted a “colorable imitation of the Buc-ee’s Logo.” Lawyers for Buc-ee’s state in the lawsuit that Barc-ee’s publicly admitted to getting its inspiration from the chain Bar-cee’s linked to an article on its website that said the company’s inspiration came from “the well-known Buc-ee’s,” calling it “a playful nod to Buc-ee’s.” Lawyers also argued that the pup-friendly business has misled customers into believing the two companies are related The attorneys demanded a jury trial to resolve the matter They also pushed for the company to cease operations using the Barc-ee’s name and logo as well as money to cover profits the owners made using the logo and name Previous lawsuits filed by Buc-ee’sBarc-ee’s isn’t the only company Buc-ee’s has sued. The company has initiated legal action against at least four other companies Previous lawsuits or threats of legal action include: And in November 2024 the chain filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees Buc-ee's claimed Duckees printed a similar logo on its products and inside the shape is a sunglasses-wearing cartoon duck dressed in a green shirt and red bowtie In response to the lawsuit, Duckees denied the allegations and said any alleged infringement was done "in good faith" and the owners had no idea about Buc-ee's trademarks, reported the Springfield News-Leader The Duckees also said the logos were used in a "geographically remote area” where customers do not know much about Buc-ee’s and its logos The court was notified of a settlement between April 3 and April 17 The company previously announced plans to expand Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team OAK CREEK — A recently filed 20-page lawsuit is challenging the City of Oak Creek's decision to rezone land for a proposed Buc-ee’s travel center alleging that the city lacks the legal authority to do so PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oak Creek Buc-ee's project moves forward despite neighbors' concerns voiced concerns about the implications of the city's actions "I think a lot of people rely on zoning and comprehensive land use plans," she said Watch: Oak Creek Neighbors United files legal suit against Buc-ee’s development who resides less than a mile from the proposed Buc-ee’s site is part of the nonprofit that initiated the lawsuit The legal action claims that the rezoning constitutes "illegal spot zoning," a term used when local governments alter the zoning classification for a small parcel of land in a way that does not conform with surrounding neighborhoods typically for the benefit of a specific property owner or project PREVIOUS COVERAGE: How neighbors are feeling about the proposed Buc-ee's in Oak Creek the project in question is the planned Buc-ee’s "That's why we have zoning and comprehensive land use plans They help guide and ensure balanced development in the city," Shreve added According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Plan the land designated for Buc-ee’s was originally zoned for business purposes a recent vote by the Common Council changed the zoning classification to commercial by amending the comprehensive plan Shreve and other residents voiced their opposition to the project during a council meeting held on March 18 "Overbuilding and prioritizing new construction and developments over neighborhoods just has so many negative consequences," Shreve stated The lawsuit asserts that the city's decision to approve the rezoning and the comprehensive plan amendment was made “solely for the benefit of the developer.” It argues that the neighboring community will endure increased light pollution and traffic congestion due to the development "Our neighborhood recognizes there’s going to be some sort of development in that area The City of Oak Creek has approximately 45 days to respond to the lawsuit officials indicated that they are currently reviewing the suit with their legal team and remain committed to holding future public meetings regarding the Buc-ee’s development project Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error Report a typo Buc-ee's, the wildly popular roadside travel center offering sparkling clean bathrooms and Beaver Nuggets are expanding across the nation — and one location opening in June is just a short car ride away from New Jersey The Texas-based, country-store-and-gas-station known for its massive size and tasty food offerings has primarily been a must-stop for those heading south. Reddit users have likened the store to a "major attraction," much like Disney World Living in New Jersey where Wawa and QuickChek reign supreme you've either been lucky enough to stop at a Buc-ee's while traveling to Texas a new store to our south is about four miles away while another in a nearby state may become your next roadside stop if you head west Here's what to know about the latest Buc-ee's locations and if there has been any talk of Buc-ee's coming to New Jersey with 126 fueling pumps and plenty of food options customers love A second Virginia location in New Kent County is slated to open in 2027 The location will be the first in the state showing what may be a promising expansion toward the Northeast 20-minute drive from Trenton — and an ideal location if you're headed across Pennsylvania and out west How far is the closest Buc-ee's to New Jersey?With the opening of the Virginia location in June it will be the closest Buc-ee's to the Garden State you can get to this location by car in just over four hours Here's a Google Maps image showing the route from southwest New Jersey to the new Buc-ee's location in Rockingham County Here is a Google Maps image showing the direction of travel from Trenton New Jersey to the new Buc-ee's location slated to open in Huber Heights Buc-ee's was founded in Texas, where there are at least 36 locations, but also has stores in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and one each in South Carolina, Missouri and Colorado, according to the Buc-ee's website In addition to the two Virginia locations and the Ohio store, Buc-ee's is also expected to open a store in North Carolina Its array of food option also prove different than typical convenience store fare; popular picks include Bucky the Beaver nuggets (aka corn puffs) Will a Buc-ee's come to NJ?We have Wawa and QuickChek here in New Jersey, but is it possible a Buc-ee's could come to the Garden State? While there have been no definitive discussions about bringing the chain to New Jersey, stores have begun to expand across the U.S., particularly since 2019, when it debuted its first store outside of Texas The pageant queen was featured in a Buc-ee's Instagram post in February with fellow Miss America hopefuls Miss New Jersey's Elizabeth Mendel posed with fellow Miss America contestants inside the store holding snacks and sipping drinks in their formal wear The women were in Alabama for a homecoming celebration for Miss Alabama "When a Jersey girl meets Bucees for the first time it’s a magical moment LOLL." Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team In revealing their intentions publicly for the first time they told USA TODAY Network it would easily surpass their current Florida locations in size by close to 40% It has its own fudge counter Buc-ee's headquarters disclosed its latest Southwest Florida mission with the USA TODAY Network Those involved in the endeavor say honchos are expected to visit with county commissioners in May The Buc-ee's would be part of a trio of villages in a new Harborview development centered around the exit, with north, east and west components. Benderson Development is tweaking plans to allow for the mega petrol station where residential had been originally slated in West Village which is adjacent to a preserve on the river "The existing approved one is for residential only, but the proposed one for the West Village has commercial development," Charlotte County Principal Planner Jie Shao said "The new proposal for the West Village is only for commercial." That shift is part of what commissioners would be voting on next month: "What we're doing is reconfiguring making the project more marketable and more available to be developed under today's standards and needs," said Benderson attorney Derek Rooney of GrayRobinson who noted more from Buc-ee's will be learned at the commission meeting "There is an interest from Buc-ee's for the West Village "There will be representatives from Buc-ee's to address that concern The only change reflected in the proposal that's different (would) be further defining what a multi-pump facility like a Buc-ee's would allow (That) is the only change that affects the potential for a Buc-ee's." Commissioners would be voting on rezoning and other preliminary measures related to the venture but not the Buc-ee's effort itself just yet public records requested by the USA TODAY Network show they will have specifics in their hands on what the organization would unofficially like to do on 27 acres Asked by the USA TODAY Network if it would serve as his most immense Spreading more than 75,000 square feet, the Buc-ee’s in Luling, Texas is "the largest Buc-ee’s location in the country," Beard said "Port Charlotte," according to the documents they will have tall signs so when people travel on I-75 "And also they added general signage for the convenience food and beverage store with the gas pumps in the West Village with graphics." "I am a pro-development person," said Stephen Vieira the planning commissioner who represents the region where the enterprise is slated for a target completion of 2035 There might be a different discussion concerning the West Village but as far as the East Village and the North Village go I see that as reasonably good development to occur in the area." environmental worries and congestion along what's largely two-lane Harborview "The Buc-ee's we're talking about is going to be the 10,000-pound gorilla environmentally," said Deep Creek community resident Greg Dyer light pollution ― we're talking about signs God knows what that's going to look like when you're coming over 75 and people are living over there whether it's environmental with the light pollution or in general." Even those who explore Buc-ee's on their travels would rather not see it in their backyard like long-time local Sharon Brandt: "My kids love using the gas pumps ― if you can get to a gas pump without standing in line But what worries me most is I've been able to travel on Harborview Road for 45 years to get into Port Charlotte "There is no way with the traffic I have seen at Buc-ee's ― let alone all the housing ― there is no way that our little road is going to be able to get us to Port Charlotte says infrastructure is among the considerations and there are talks with the state Department of Transportation: "Harborview Road from Melbourne Street to I-75 there's a planned widening from two to four lanes (and) construction is partially funded by FDOT in fiscal year 2026 but not completely funded so I do want to acknowledge that "The I-75 and Harborview Road interchange is part of FDOT's planning and feasibility study along the I-75 corridor Improvements are planned at that I-75 interchange with Harborview Road and they're being considered as part of this project once we're moving into that final site plan stage Conversations with DOT have already started including analysis of that interchange." Others who live nearby say it's part of the pain that comes with development which helps bring dollars into the region and employment Buc-ee's typically hires at least 200 full-timers with benefits that include a 6% matching 401(k) retirement setup and three weeks paid vacation "I will be impacted by the traffic," said Deep Creek resident Lisa Black (and) this brings money to the county and the city of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda (This) part of Florida is seeing a lot of growth which is why they feel like this is warranted I know this is hard for people to realize." An April staff report notes that the land around where Buc-ee's would emerge could be affected by hurricane storm surge as "the entire West Village is located within the Coastal High Hazard Area" designated by the federal government Benderson representatives say the plus is that homes would no longer be part of that West section the proposal that we're bringing forward (includes) a limitation to commercial uses (and) reducing the number of residential units in the coastal hazard areas," said Project Director Jem Frantz of RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture in Bonita Springs "Benefits have come without request for increased density (by Benderson which) has owned the property for some time now has plans to continue to own and stick with the property through all the development of the commercial areas." In the Know: Owner unloading 10 Fla. malls. Where are they? List includes Lee, Palm Beach, Pensacola How long does it take to construct a super-sized Buc-ee's?From start to finish, construction of a Buc-ee's takes about 15 to 18 months, according to Scott Ray 365-days-a-year completed product is usually boosted by a 1.5 megawatt backup generator Buc-ee's even has its own mammoth fuel trucks so Ray said there is no concern of running out of gasoline "Outside of the military and a few large fuel depots those are the largest tanks you can buy and transport over roadways," he said "Most of our locations are designated as an emergency responder meeting point They've got plenty of power to charge phones Fire storm: With major surge in hurricanes impacting SWFL, apartments now offer 'sustainability' "Potential is always just potential," planning board member Clint Baker said ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The iconic Texas-based, Texas-sized gas station/travel center with a cult-like following is already spurring interest in residential and commercial development nearby Treasure Coast's first Buc-ee's is planned to open 2026 at the southeast quadrant of the Indrio Road-Interstate 95 interchange The mega gas station is to include a 76,245-square-foot retail store 120 gas pumps and charging spaces for 18 electric vehicles About 4 miles away, a vacant 21.4-acre parcel is listed for sale for $2.75 million and is being marketed with the tease: "Near Buc-ee's!" Buc-ee's is a bellwether for greater development along Indrio Road according to commercial real estate agent Conor Mackin Bucc-ee's will draw more people off the highway calls the center "insane to say the least." "If anyone is driving on I-95 and they see a Bucc-ee's As for the land for sale, the wooded plot, currently zoned for agricultural use, is directly across Emerson Avenue from Lakewood Park Regional Park and is in close proximity to a future Publix store it likely will be sold to a real estate developer to build medium-density residential units "The fact that Buc-ee's is showing interest signals to other developers and businesses that there is something valuable about this area," he said This corridor has sat quiet for a long time." The development is planned to have 2,518 residential units 960,000 square feet of commercial development Although county approval of the residential development predates Buc-ee's the travel center likely will be one of the first commercial components completed Buc-ee's: St. Lucie County Buc-ee's gets state approval, but some steps remain Buc-ee's: 100-foot-tall Buc-ee's sign approved in St. Lucie County Buc-ee's development company purchased its roughly 35-acre plot July 2024 for nearly $10 million from Indrio & I95 Development LLC Indrio & I95 Development LLC — owned by South Florida developer Gustavo Lumer — still retains about 800 acres dedicated to the Indrio development Jack Randall is TCPalm’s economy and real estate reporter You can reach him at jack.randall@tcpalm.com or 904-466-4755 KARK – It is said that everything is bigger in Texas but Arkansas now holds the title for the biggest Buc-ee’s groundbreaking About 400 people came to the ceremony in Benton and left with plenty of free food and swag Buc-ee’s estimates that five million people will visit this travel center annually once it’s open in September 2026 The groundbreaking with over 20 turns of a shovel is on brand for Buc-ee’s and 74,000 square feet of retail space to Benton.  Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said it is a stop her kids make sure they go anytime they pass one out of state “Buc-ee’s isn’t just a pit stop anymore It draws people in from literally hundreds of miles away,” Sanders stated Some out-of-state travelers even went out of their way to the groundbreaking The Lachinski family from Illinois was camping in Hot Springs the night before they heard about the Wednesday event “We take the way through Springfield just to stop at Buc-ee’s,” David Lachinski admitted Benton native Kathy Dawson claimed she has said the spot at Interstate 30 exit 114 was a perfect place for Buc-ee’s for a decade she said she plans to stop at this one weekly “And so I am just beside myself,” Dawson said I’m going to try and work at Buc-ee’s.” Fans say anyone who has never been to Buc-ee’s must make a trip to this one “It is just unbelievable how big it is Even the souvenirs,” Sue Lachinski said Sue’s husband applauded the clean bathrooms while her son praised brisket sandwiches and jerky.  “They have it all,” Brett said a second Arkansas travel center is planned for West Memphis and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III says the company is looking for another natural state location to build a third travel center You have a lot of interstates going through it So I just think there are a lot of similarities (to Texas) and I’m quite confident it will be a great state for us,” Beaver said According to Saline County Economic Development Corporation President Shane Broadway including the first time they built a parking lot or a large stage for the occasion “This is the biggest groundbreaking that we’ve ever had even bigger than Texas,” Beaver concluded Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals graduated from TAMUCC in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Myra and the KRIS 6 Digital Team recently won an Edward Murrow Award in May 2024 arrrrr you ready for the big Rally Night Parade at Buc Days City work crews are already starting to prepare for the big parade This year, the Buc Days Stadium Show will begin at 7 p.m at Buc Stadium with the parade beginning at 8 p.m For those who plan to watch the parade from the route this year's parade will begin on Leopard Street just outside Buccaneer Stadium and will head down Leopard Street towards Port Avenue Floats and participants will travel past City Hall down to North Upper Broadway and Schatzell Street before taking a right on Shoreline Boulevard City officials say parade spots on Leopard Street to North Upper Broadway can be marked with chalk only on April 19 If you plan to view the parade from North Upper Broadway to Kinney Street All trash and markings must be removed immediately following the parade Organizers ask that you please obey "No Parking" signs around the parade route If you cannot attend the parade, KRIS 6 will broadcast the Buc Days Stadium Show and parade on air as well as stream them both on KRISTV.com (CBS12) — A Buc-ee’s is coming to Fort Pierce — and it's already reshaping the area around it The Texas-based travel center will rise just off I-95 and Indrio Road But the project’s impact goes far beyond brisket sandwiches and Beaver Nuggets Developers say the Buc-ee’s announcement has triggered new interest from homebuilders and retailers — all eyeing this largely undeveloped part of St which hasn't really had much development in a while "Other developers and investors are taking notice a 21-acre wooded lot is now listed for sale — and being marketed specifically for its proximity to the upcoming Buc-ee’s "There’s going to be a need for housing with all of that," Mackin said "A lot of larger homebuilders and townhome developers have been reaching out." Buc-ee’s is just the anchor tenant in a much larger project The company purchased its roughly 35-acre site in July 2024 for nearly $10 million from Indrio & I-95 Development LLC — owned by South Florida developer Gustavo Lumer Lumer’s company still controls about 800 acres earmarked for the broader Indrio development Plans for the area include: See also: New funding play: Martin County Schools to sell naming rights to athletic facilities Locals say the area has been quiet for years it’s going to grow," one resident said which I’m excited about — it’ll make getting around a lot more convenient," another added “The only thing that’s a concern is traffic — and that’s what comes with development,” a nearby resident told us While Buc-ee’s is still waiting on final site plan approval construction could begin in just a few months — with opening day expected just over a year later PALMER LAKE — After pulling back last month developers have resubmitted a controversial request that would pave the way for the state's second Buc-ee's was approached to annex a 30-acre property at the corner of County Line Road and Interstate 25 last year for the future site of the super-sized Texas travel store chain the town Board of Trustees ruled that the six contiguous requests — connecting the parcel to town limits by a thin line along part of County Line Road — were together legally eligible to be considered for approval The decision has received strong backlash from some including a recall campaign of three trustees who approved the eligibility A meeting to consider the annexation had not been set this year before developers rescinded the application Buc-ee's director of real estate and development said in a statement that the application was pulled due to a "technical issue." Beard said that Buc-ee's would be resubmitting Palmer Lake received the new request April 3 the Board of Trustees decided to set the new eligibility hearing for a special meeting on May 29 According to our news partners at The Gazette the new submitted annexation plans do not offer reasoning on changes made The new annexation map has some alterations from the previous submission The request is still a "flagpole" annexation connecting the parcel to town limits via a thin right of way along County Line Road The newly submitted annexation requests cover a greater swath of the roadway straddling El Paso and Douglas counties than in the previous submission The issue of whether splitting the roadway affected the annexation's legal eligibility came up at its previous hearing in December said that only including the El Paso side was not a problem She said that the developers may reach out to Douglas County to consider adding the other half at a later time “It would be our desire to work with Douglas County to annex the entire roadway,” she said The new requests also encompasses more of County Line Road to the west past a parcel owned by the United Congregational Church recently de-annexed from the town Concerns were also raised in December about eligibility in light of the de-annexation though Ruiz said that the right of way of County Line Road covered the gap Both eligibility concerns were listed in a lawsuit filed in El Paso County District Court against the town in January by groups including the United Congregational Church In addition to alleging the de-annexed parcel would interrupt the connection to the town the lawsuit also alleged that “annexation maps failed to annex the entire roadway width as required by (Colorado statute) and also the town’s Three-Mile Plan The purpose of the statute is to ensure clarity of road maintenance responsibilities,” plaintiffs said in court documents Buc-ee's representatives have not responded to comment on the new request The Gazette's Savannah Eller contributed to this web story it's worth noting that service members who retire and then teach at the Academy are considered civilian instructors Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 Lawsuits filed by Buc-ee's travel center against a pair of Ozarks-area businesses it accused of infringing on its branding appear to have been resolved for now Court documents indicate that the Texas-based convenience store chain reached a settlement with a Kimberling City liquor store it sued for trademark infringement and a Facebook post announced the closure of Marshfield business Barc-ee's almost a month after it was sued for trademark infringement Buc-ee's previously filed a federal lawsuit in November against a Kimberling City retailer that uses a cartoon mascot It appears that the pair may have reached a settlement sunglasses-wearing duck in a green shirt and red bowtie inside of a yellow circle that appears to be printed on a bottle cap Buc-ee's lawsuit claims the logo uses "the most important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo." More: Buc-ee's is suing this Missouri-based liquor store for trademark infringement stating that any alleged infringement was done "in good faith" without prior knowledge of Buc-ee's trademarks The business also stated that its logos are used in a "geographically remote area where [Buc-ee's] marks were not generally known to consumers." request for comment from both Buc-ee's and Duckees had not been returned In March, Texas-based Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Barc-ee's for trademark infringement claimed that the use of "Barc-ee's" and a "colorful imitation" of Buc-ee's trademark in connection with food and drink products pet products and travel-stop services infringes on the company's rights The lawsuit claims that the use of that logo to promote food and drink and travel-stop services has resulted in confusion to consumers More: Another Ozarks business faces federal lawsuit from Buc-ee's over trademark infringement court documents reference news articles noting that Barc-ee's owner John Lopez was inspired by the Buc-ee's business concept The lawsuit argues the acknowledged inspiration is evidence that Barc-ee's operators were aware of trademarks and still "willingly and intentionally" moved forward using a similar mark Buc-ee's claims in the lawsuit that the unauthorized use of its trademarks will benefit Barc-ee's at Buc-ee's expense and imply that the two businesses are connected "[The infringement] places the valuable reputation and goodwill of Buc-ee’s in the hands of Defendants It further impairs the distinctiveness of the Buc-ee’s Trademarks," the petition reads Barc-ee's requested a time extension to answer Buc-ee's complaints which was granted by Judge Beth Phillips on April 14 Barc-ee's has until May 6 to file a response in the court case although owners announced in a Facebook post April 17 that the business has closed Buc-ee's had not replied to a request for comment Barc-ee's owners assure fans that it isn't the end for them "With heavy hearts, we’re announcing the official closing of Barc-ee’s. This decision hasn’t come easy, and we want to thank each and every one of you who supported us, cheered us on, and made memories with us," the business said in the April 17 Facebook post. ".. STAY TUNED—we’ll be announcing our brand new name and our next location as we step into this new chapter with vision and boldness." The post also teased a new concept by former Barc-ee's employees: The Bean & Bubble Babes A group of residents in Oak Creek are suing the city to try and keep Buc-ee’s from building Oak Creek Neighbors United filed the lawsuit on April 11 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court The suit said it’s “a challenge to a decision to approve an amendment to the City of Oak Creek Comprehensive Plan and associated spot rezoning of certain property located in the southwestern corner of the City of Oak Creek on South 27th Street and Elm Road.” the plaintiffs are alleging the rezoning and comprehensive plan amendment were only to benefit the owner of the undeveloped property and approved by the Oak Creek Common Council “over the objection of several hundred citizens and the alderman for the district.” The lawsuit alleges this is a case of “illegal spot zoning” and should be declared void by the court The neighbors share their primary concerns in the suit, saying the proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s could be detrimental to surrounding properties Neighbors are primarily concerned with traffic increases through the subdivision and potential impacts of the development on property values Oak Creek’s City Administrator Andrew Vickers shared a statement with the Journal Sentinel April 14 on the city’s response to the filing: “The City of Oak Creek is aware that a notice of circumstances and claim has been filed regarding the proposed Buc-ee’s development We are reviewing this matter with the city’s legal team the city remains committed to upcoming public meetings to review conditions and detailed site plans for the development the city will not be making further comments at this time.” The plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment that the 2020 Comprehensive Plan amendment approval and rezone of the properties by the Oak Creek Common Council be voided by the court Buc-ee’s is proposed to be built on the property at 10700, 10820 and 10840 South 27th Street in Oak Creek. The proposal for the 24/7 “Disneyland of gas stations,” as a Buc-ee’s representative called it Buc-ee’s has also been proposed in DeForest. Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel the issue there is the village needs road improvements. Bukiewicz said he thinks the Oak Creek Buc-ee’s could end up opening first A statement from Buc-ee’s said the Oak Creek store could open in early 2027 To allow the development to move forward, the Oak Creek Common Council needed to rezone the parcels for retail use and approve an amendment to the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan from Business Park to Commercial, which it did on March 18 with a 5-1 vote “The city’s actions to approve the rezoning and (comprehensive plan) amendment were done solely for the benefit of the private property owner and developer of the subject parcels and are thus illegal spot zoning,” the lawsuit alleged The plaintiffs allege Oak Creek officials and staff took actions in fall 2024 regarding certain municipal code amendments related to alcohol sales and car washes that would benefit Buc-ee’s before the project was announced to the public Oak Creek Neighbors United said in the lawsuit they thought the development sounded like a “done deal” during the plan commission meeting on Jan 28 – the first public mention of Buc-ee’s on a meeting agenda Bukiewicz told the Journal Sentinel in January he understands the concerns presented by neighbors to the potential Buc-ee’s who spoke at the plan commission meeting He also noted many other residents expressed excitement for the project you really have to look long-term at these things,” he said Oak Creek released a timeline for the project in February Many of the dates are anticipated and not set in stone the next time the project could be on an agenda is the April 22 plan commission meeting for a review of the Certified Survey Map (CSM) application to combine the three parcels A conditional use permit application for a “fueling plaza” at 27th Street and Elm Road is also expected to be up for review The schedule lists May 20 as the next time the Oak Creek Common Council could have the project on its agenda with a public hearing on the CSM and conditional use permit applications and a potential vote More: What's next for Buc-ee's in Oak Creek? City provides a timeline for the project Journal Sentinel reporter Claire Reid contributed to this report Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner The city of Benton hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the upcoming location of the popular convenience store chain Buc-ee's in Arkansas will be located off the Haskell exit of Interstate 30 on Arkansas 229 at the southern end of Benton This will be the first location to begin construction in Arkansas Another location is scheduled to open in West Memphis later in 2026 according to Buc-ee's executive and founder "We liked the interstate coming out of Little Rock We've been looking for [an] Arkansas [location] for quite a while We have a big hiring base in close proximity here and we're going to need a lot of employees," Aplin said Buc-ee's is known for paying employees above minimum wage Its workers typically make a starting hourly wage of around $18 it is estimated to bring upwards of 200 jobs to the area due to its 24/7 operating hours and the size of the store great to share this moment with some of the people who worked so hard to make this happen a special and huge thank you to our local leadership This would not have happened without the people who are here on this stage," Sanders said in a speech before the groundbreaking ceremony "It isn't just the kids of Arkansas who are thrilled with this announcement This is going to be huge for the Arkansas economy," she said noting that Buc-ee's is more than a gas station Sanders said the greatness of Buc-ee's isn't its large size real estate agent Vanna Barnes and Denise Hyde of Old South Realty said they are most excited about how the Buc-ee's in Benton will boost the local economy Barnes said it would help put Saline County on the map And Dinetta Garner said she was excited because she owns property right next to where the store will be Aplin said the store will feature more than 100 fuel pumps EV chargers and "America's cleanest restrooms" (as proclaimed by corporate service industry supplier Cintas after a nationwide restroom contest in 2012) The store will also offer barbecue and fudge made in-house "beaver nuggets," which are similar to cheese puffs and come in various flavors the chain sells Buc-ee's-themed merchandise in its stories that feature red cap-wearing mascot Bucky the Beaver The company name and mascot combine founder Arch Aplin's childhood nickname in 1982 before expanding to a much larger travel center in Luling Most Buc-ee's locations are still in Texas; its first store outside of Texas opened in 2019 in Alabama Buc-ee's has become something of a Southern cultural icon with locations near popular tourist destinations such as Daytona Beach One is for the world's largest convenience store It beat the old record set by a Buc-ee's in Sevierville which beat the old record set by a Buc-ee's in New Braunfels The other record is for the world's longest car wash He graduated as top senior from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s mass communication-journalism program and joined the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2023 This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Fill up on a variety of breakfast items before you hit the road you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1 <p>See website for details.</p> With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year This rare checking account has other great perks too like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score Did you know if your air conditioner stops working you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan May brings both warmer weather and major sales with the combo of Mother's Day (May 11) and Memorial Day (May 26). Here are some of the best deals to watch for: Retailers are already prepping for summer while you're just enjoying spring, making May perfect to save money at your favorite retailers Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud and identity theft in 2023 safeguard your data with all-in-one identity theft protection services from Aura access Aura's Dark Web monitoring that scours data breaches for your sensitive personal data including Social Security numbers (SSN) Uncertain times call for a review of expenses that goes beyond simple cost-cutting. Here are some steps for you to consider: During challenging economic periods And remember that financial resilience isn't built overnight Some or all of the offers that appear on this page are from third party advertisers from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including FinanceBuzz does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser The credit card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which FinanceBuzz receives compensation such as banks or CardRatings.com The FinanceBuzz editorial team strives to provide accurate in-depth information and reviews to help you FinanceBuzz makes money when you click the links on our site to some of the products and offers that we mention These partnerships do not influence our opinions or recommendations FinanceBuzz reviews and rates products on a variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Whenever possible we test each product and include our honest, firsthand experience using it. Read more about how we rate products Partners are not able to review or request changes to our content except for compliance reasons Financial products are highly regulated so we work closely with partners to make sure the information we have on our site is accurate and includes any required legal language and disclaimers We aim to make sure everything on our site is up-to-date and accurate as of the publishing date, but we cannot guarantee we haven't missed something. It's your responsibility to double-check all information before making any financial decision. If you spot something that looks wrong, please let us know Opinions expressed here are the author's alone approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities We strive to provide up-to-date information but make no warranties regarding the accuracy of our information you are responsible for your financial decisions FinanceBuzz does not provide credit cards or any other financial products FinanceBuzz.com does not make any credit decisions (Terrell, Texas) - As Buc-ee's continues their expansion across the United States some local businesses may be rethinking their logo The reason for that is because Buc-ee's is having no issue taking someone to court who has a logo that even remotely resembles their beloved beaver Duckees and Barc-ee's have all been in the courtroom over their logos What we haven't seen is one of these businesses shut down That was until recently when the Missouri based mom and pop Barc-ee's announced their closure It's pink with a little smiling dog driving a convertible Their business is basically a hangout for you There's lots of food to enjoy and coffee to drink There's even a play area for the kiddos Buc-ee's felt that Barc-ee's logo was too close to theirs That's when a copyright infringement suit was filed they're expanding their reach in the Kansas-Missouri area Missouri but a second location will be built in Kansas City Being that Barc-ee's is a small mom and pop, they most likely don't have the funds to fight Buc-ee's in court. The company has decided to shut its doors, temporarily, for what seems to be a rebrand. In the meantime, The Bean and Bubble Babes will be spun-off as a food truck offering great food and cool drinks a new look and possibly even a new location it's their turning "lemons into lemonade" moment I'm sure fans of Barc-ee's will stick around for the rebrand and enjoy the new adventure with them READ MORE: The Curious History of a Now Abandoned Ammunition Plant in East Texas READ MORE: How Tyler Launched the Adopt-a-Highway Program That Went Global Gallery Credit: Texas Lottery Buc-ee's filed suit against a Missouri small business for copyright infringement of their logo.\nRead More (Terrell, Texas) - As Buc-ee's continues their expansion across the United States Being that Barc-ee's is a small mom and pop, they most likely don't have the funds to fight Buc-ee's in court. The company has decided to shut its doors, temporarily, for what seems to be a rebrand. In the meantime, The Bean and Bubble Babes will be spun-off as a food truck offering great food and cool drinks 🐾 A Bittersweet Update from the Wolfpack 🐾\n\nWith heavy hearts 💔 we’re announcing the official closing of Barc-ee’s... READ MORE: The Curious History of a Now Abandoned Ammunition Plant in East Texas READ MORE: How Tyler Launched the Adopt-a-Highway Program That Went Global The dog park and cafe closed after being hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit A similar suit against Duckee’s liquor store settled out of court About a month after Buc-ee’s filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Barc-ee’s, the Missouri dog park and cafe has closed down pending a brand refresh according to a Facebook post from the company and we want to thank each and every one of you who supported us,” Barc-ee’s said in the post Buc-ee’s filed suit on March 19,  alleging that Barc-ee’s, which offered a space for dogs to run around, a Western-themed children’s play area and a cafe, violated Buc-ee’s trademark since it had a similar name and logo which shows a cartoon dog driving a car inside a circle One of the outcomes Buc-ee’s was seeking in its lawsuit was for Barc-ee’s to stop using that name and logo In a separate lawsuit from last year, Buc-ee’s had also targeted Missouri liquor store chain Duckee’s in Missouri Western District Court That company’s logo was a duck mascot inside a circle the two sides came to a settlement out of court sometime between April 3 and April 17 As Buc-ee’s continues to expand its extra-large c-stores across the U.S., it has been protective of its trademarks. In addition to Bark-ee’s and Duckee’s, it also targeted Mexican look-alike Buk-ii’s in 2023 Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Luke and Rochelle Davis became guarantors of a Mountain Express-leased c-store in late 2020 and their relationship with Rochelle’s mother — the store’s owner — is broken CEOs, CFOs and other leaders from retailers like Murphy USA Casey’s General Stores and Arko discuss the shifting gas landscape Want to share a company announcement with your peers The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines The Lone Star State's favorite gas station has its own mascot and fan following Here is the story behind the unique convenience store and Tennessee with plans to open new stores in Louisiana Buc-ee’s most popular sandwich is the Chopped Brisket The state has signed off on a key aspect of the project Lucie County Commissioner Larry Leet said April 8 The next step to beginning construction is approving the final site plan. Once approved, Buc-ee’s construction typically takes 12-15 months from start to doors opening, company officials have said That could put an opening sometime in 2026 The Texas-based chain operates 51 locations in nine states — Alabama It is a megasized gas station chain that started in Texas in 1982 What's next:? St. Lucie County Buc-ee's gets a state approval, county leader says, but some steps remain Dining: 14 restaurants in the Heart of Tradition in Port St. Lucie Florida has two Buc-ee's, one in Daytona Beach and one in St The second in Daytona Beach opened on March 22 The Daytona Beach Buc-ee's has a 53,000-square-foot convenience store, slightly bigger than the 52,600-square-foot location in St. Augustine and about the average size of a Publix store Lucie County location is awaiting final site plan approval Buc-ee's has amassed a cult-like following among visitors who make it a point to stop at Buc-ee's during a road trip From clean bathrooms to fresh brisket sandwiches to Buc-ee's merchandise It's known for its large locations offering products such as home decor candied nuts and store-brand snack products like beaver nuggets Buc-ee's also is known for its clean bathrooms Lucie County Buc-ee's is at the southeast quadrant of the Indrio/I-95 That puts it northwest of Fort Pierce and southwest of Vero Beach It is be the first interstate exit south of Indian River County The site plan shows the Buc-ee's with the following specs: Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene Purchase the Latest NACS State of the Industry Report® The convenience and fuel retailing industry’s premier benchmarking tool and the most comprehensive collection of data and trends Discover what’s next and how to get there faster The inaugural NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium is the industry’s only and fully dedicated event designed exclusively for convenience retailers wholesalers and suppliers who are seeking the latest insights tools and resources that can help them proactively prepare for and mitigate risks The 2025 NACS Food Safety Forum will take place April 8 in conjunction with the NACS State of the Industry Summit and quality assurance professionals at the only industry-specific food safety event for the convenience retail community attendees will be networking with industry experts attending thought-provoking and empowering education sessions and exploring a show floor with the latest merchandise for convenience and fuel retailing technologies and best practices shaping the future of convenience retail in Europe and around the globe Don’t Forget to Renew Your Membership Ohio and Arizona’s first locations will open in 2026 The opening of Ohio's first Buc-ee's location has been delayed to 2026, reported local news outlet The Columbus Dispatch “Ohio's first Buc-ee's in Huber Heights was originally set to open in late 2025 after construction began in August 2024 A 2025 opening is ‘no longer feasible’ due to ‘early project hiccups’ that delayed the project,” the outlet reported Buc-ee’s is reportedly targeting the first quarter of 2026 for its opening in Ohio "We will provide more specific information as we get closer to the finish line No need to panic; fresh Texas BBQ and the world’s cleanest restrooms are on the way,” said Buc-ee's Director of Real Estate and Development Stan Beard Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s location was set to open as soon as Christmas 2025 but a Buc-ee's representative confirmed to local news outlet ABC15 that there is a new opening date: "We are currently planning to open our Goodyear NACS Daily has been keeping an eye on other Buc-ee’s locations under construction, including the first Mississippi Buc-ee's, which is expected to open this spring, reported local news outlet My San Antonio “It will also be among the largest stores in the company at a whopping 74,000 square feet The Harrison County Buc-ee's is anticipated to open in 2025 according to Buc-ee's expected openings but a date wasn't posted,” wrote the outlet Construction on Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s started in January 2024 and is expected to open sometime in 2025 according to news outlet Virginia Business will be 74,000 square feet and have 120 fueling positions A second Virginia location in New Kent County is currently under construction and will reportedly open in 2027. The project was awaiting funding from the state to expand the exit, according to ABC 8 News Interested in how many c-stores opened in 2024? Join NACS at the 2025 State of the Industry Summit April 8-10 in Dallas to learn convenience-specific data There are those who would pooh-pooh (or poo-poo, as it were) the concept of an art gallery in a bathroom. But on a recent Monday at a Buc-ee’s along Texas Highway 71 in Bastrop numerous women found themselves in thrall to a glossy black horse whose portrait hung outside the women’s restroom Undoubtedly still recovering from having watched Black Beauty at a formative age they paused as they beelined for the stalls to lean in and read the small placard by the photo “Black on Black,” by equine artist Samantha Carter can be yours for $199.98—please ask for assistance founded in Lake Jackson by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III in 1982 has swelled to include more than fifty locations in Texas and eight other states Its famously clean facilities—which it brags about on billboards (“Restrooms That Make Mom Smile”)—are unlike any other gas station bathrooms: There are long rows of stalls often with green and red lights over each indicating which are free The whole experience is jarringly pleasant like how I imagine visits to public restrooms in Japan are The art galleries can be found at the entrance of each bathroom area where reproductions of photographs and paintings fan out from the entryway and hang along the hallways that separate the men’s and women’s sides and all of them have been thoughtfully curated by Colleen Booth the chain’s category manager for home decor The galleries precede Booth’s arrival at the company given that the restrooms are the most heavily trafficked area in the stores the largest of which can serve up to around 15,000 visitors a day (Only 4,000 tourists visit Michelangelo’s David  in Florence each day.) Booth selects new art for each Buc-ee’s twice a year introducing pieces in January and just before Mother’s Day She also tailors each gallery’s offerings to its locale studying regional decor to determine which themes will appeal to its visitors and stop them in their tracks as they charge to the stalls.  which tend to reflect a town’s aesthetic better than national chains do She pays attention to what major home-goods stores are selling though she notes that Buc-ee’s customers aren’t particularly drawn to the neutral one-print-fits-all abstract pieces you find at Target or Crate & Barrel Buc-ee’s patrons want art that is fun Many of the customers perusing the decor items are buying for second homes they’re traveling to: ranches Booth’s choices must have a strong sense of place “When I bring in something that’s a little bit too modern or a little bit too nonthemed it gets lost in the shuffle,” she says The birds are colorful and call up images of simpler living but “how much people love them is a little bit of a surprise for me Booth sources the paintings and photos in Buc-ee’s with the help of Somerset House Publishing an art publisher and distributor in Fulshear She works closely with Somerset owner Larry Smith to create arrangements for each bathroom making detailed storyboards for every travel center—a men’s side and a women’s side “I curate art that I think is going to speak to men and art that I think is going to speak to women,” Booth says she makes the buying decision in both categories”—she being the proverbial wife—“but there’s definitely guys’ art ‘I love this,’ and he’s going to show it to his wife That customers pause to notice and purchase these pieces is a testament to Booth and Smith’s deft selection process Some visitors even make a point of taking in the artistic offerings made his first Buc-ee’s acquisition a few years ago when he and his wife were on a trip celebrating their anniversary They headed for the restrooms at the same time “It was in the middle of the two bathrooms we both made similar comments about the painting we’re buying it.’ ” Since then the couple have bought a piece of art whenever they’ve stopped into Buc-ee’s on a special excursion together—their home holds three now resident named Dana Swekosky was traveling in late January when she was startled by an image titled Lend Me Your Ear which depicts a Black Angus cow with a cardinal perched on one ear Swekosky’s father had died about a month before she found herself in the hallway of a Buc-ee’s in Florida and since his passing she had been seeing cardinals everywhere and she felt like the birds were messages from him The cardinal just popped out from that black background right there in the bathroom hallway of Buc-ee’s,” she says and that’s what it did for me.” She bought it immediately though she did request a wrapped-up one from the back She hung it in her living room over her TV so I can say hi to my dad every day.” Lowery, who sells his paintings in his popular Round Top gallery Humble Donkey, is a best-selling artist at Buc-ee’s and Lend Me Your Ear is his most in-demand image there Lowery tells me he wasn’t aware of the significance of cardinals which are often interpreted as signs from departed loved ones until buyers of the piece told him (Swekosky wasn’t initially aware of their symbolism either) He originally painted Lend Me Your Ear as a tribute to his grandfather a legendary whistler nicknamed “Texas Red Bird.” Lowery says he has received orders from all over the country from people who found him after seeing his work in a Buc-ee’s but the primary value of appearing in a travel center is exposure He was initially hesitant when Booth and Smith approached him; he wasn’t sure he wanted to be a “potty artist.” “I think there’s a quandary for artists to say: Are you more legitimate because you’re in Buc-ee’s or are you less legitimate because you’re in Buc-ee’s because it’s not a fine art gallery?” “I have been in the bathroom when somebody is standing and looking at it ‘Do you like that piece?’ And they go ‘I like it too.’ ” George Jones, a painter from Dallas says his partnership with Buc-ee’s hasn’t radically changed his business—he has been prolific for over forty years and his striking paintings of animals have hung in hotels and other businesses—but adds that he’s glad for the association with Buc-ee’s “They’ve got quality art on their walls and it’s just a pleasure being in that atmosphere.” Jackie Haliburton who sells her work through Jackie’s Folk Art had been a mixed-media artist for 35 years when Booth expressed interest in her paintings “I’d been written up and interviewed a lot of times before that because I knew a lot of people were going to be able to see these,” Haliburton tells me has come across people admiring her pieces in Buc-ee’s and has been tickled by the experience chimes in: “For a person to buy art in a gas station A convenience store lavatory might seem like an atmosphere ill-suited to art given that one’s goal is typically to spend as little time as possible there But nowhere are we more contemplative and reflective than in a bathroom This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of  Texas Monthly with the headline “The Splendors of the Loo-vre.” Subscribe today Great news for those summer road trips to the beach