Buc-ee’s may be narrowing its expansion focus as the Texas-based travel center chain continues its rapid growth across the country.
Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, Buc-ee’s co-founder, president, and CEO, said during the August 17 grand opening of the company’s newest location in Benton, Arkansas, that right-leaning, business-friendly communities are increasingly attractive to the company.
“We have a lot of opportunities. We’re growing. We’re building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Aplin said.
He also suggested the company may be less interested in communities where local leaders do not appreciate the economic development Buc-ee’s brings.
“I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you’re building,” Aplin said.
Buc-ee’s Looks For Business-Friendly Communities
Aplin said the company’s experience in Benton demonstrated the value of having supportive local leadership.
He described the city as a “business-friendly town” and said the company’s preferred approach works best when support extends from state leadership to local officials.
Buc-ee’s is known for its large travel centers, extensive fueling operations, food offerings, and highly regarded restrooms. The company says its typical locations span about 74,000 square feet and include 120 fueling positions, with many locations creating more than 200 jobs.
The chain currently has 58 locations, including 37 in Texas, and has expanded into 13 other states.
Expansion Continues Across The Country
Despite Aplin’s comments about where the company prefers to build, Buc-ee’s expansion plans remain broad.
The company is scheduled to open a new location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on November 16.
Additional locations listed by Buc-ee’s include six planned openings in 2027:
- Ruston, Louisiana
- Kansas City, Kansas
- Gallaway, Tennessee
- St. Lucie, Florida
- Boerne, Texas
- Monroe County, Georgia
Two more locations are listed for 2028 in Mebane, North Carolina, and Lafayette, Louisiana.
Buc-ee’s also lists planned projects in Ocala, Florida; West Memphis, Arkansas; and Oak Grove, Kentucky, for 2029, along with a Hardeeville, South Carolina, location planned for 2031.
The company has recently expanded into new markets, opening its first locations in Ohio and Arizona in 2026 after entering Virginia in 2025 and Colorado in 2024.
Texas Roots Remain Central
Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s has become one of Texas’ best-known retail and travel brands. Its continued expansion has taken the company well beyond the state, but most of its locations remain in Texas.
The chain’s growth has also brought it into communities with varying political landscapes. While many Buc-ee’s locations are in areas that generally lean Republican, some are located in communities with more politically mixed or Democratic-leaning local dynamics.
Aplin’s comments indicate that local and state leadership could play a larger role in where the company chooses to establish future locations as its national expansion continues.
For now, Buc-ee’s has a substantial pipeline of new stores extending through the next several years, with locations planned across the South and Midwest as the company continues expanding its Texas-born travel center model.
Provided by Dallas Express
