Buc-ee’s expansion – Buc-ee’s opened its first Arizona store on June 22 near Phoenix and is scheduling three additional openings in 2025—San Marcos, Texas; Benton, Arkansas; and Murfreesboro, Tennessee—before pushing deeper into new markets through 2031.
The day Buc-ee’s opened just outside of Phoenix, it didn’t feel like another stop on a highway map. It felt like the start of a new route people will plan around—especially the ones who already treat the Texas-themed travel center like a tradition.
On June 22, Buc-ee’s arrived in Arizona, marking its first store in the state and its furthest western location yet. The chain has been moving quickly in recent months, too. Earlier this year, a Buc-ee’s opened in Huber Heights, Ohio, and last year it landed in Johnstown, Colorado.
Expansion planners are already looking past the Phoenix area. Buc-ee’s is set to open three more locations this year. The first is scheduled for San Marcos, Texas on July 27. Next comes Benton, Arkansas on Aug. 17. The final 2025 opening in this round will be in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Nov. 16.
After that, Buc-ee’s expansion stretches into the late 2020s. In 2027, the company plans stores in Ruston, Louisiana; Kansas City, Kansas; Gallaway, Tennessee; St Lucie, Florida; Boerne, Texas; and Monroe County, Georgia. In 2028, it will head to both Mebane, North Carolina and Lafayette, Louisiana.
Buc-ee’s keeps the momentum going in 2029, with planned locations in Ocala, Florida; West Memphis, Arkansas; and Oak Grove, Kentucky. By 2031, the chain also plans to open in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
The company’s appeal goes beyond convenience. Buc-ee’s has built a reputation around freshly prepared barbeque and a long list of sweet treats—beaver nuggets. which are caramel-coated corn puffs. along with fudge. For many customers, it’s not just a place to refuel. It’s also a destination. with merchandise built around beaver-themed branding and a “mini amusement park” feel that families can work into their travel plans.
Even with that cult-like following, Buc-ee’s doesn’t have clean paperwork. The Better Business Bureau recently gave the chain an F rating. The organization said it received around 90 complaints about issues like overcharging and customer service. The real reason for the grade was that Buc-ee’s didn’t respond to any of them.
At the same time. Buc-ee’s is widely seen as an affordable stop for gas—an advantage that matters when budgets are tight. Professor Michael Webber. Sid Richardson Chair in Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. said Buc-ee’s makes low prices because it is a large volume seller of gasoline. He also pointed to higher margins on merchandise and food inside the store.
The tension between devotion and complaints is the kind of imbalance that can get lost in expansion headlines. But it’s exactly why Buc-ee’s still draws crowds. For loyal patrons planning road trips. the combination of fresh food. distinctive shopping. and affordable gas is hard to ignore—especially when finding both convenience and low prices on the road can be its own challenge.
Buc-ee’s expansion convenience stores travel centers Arizona San Marcos Benton Arkansas Murfreesboro Ruston Louisiana Kansas City Kansas Boerne Texas Monroe County Georgia Hardeeville South Carolina gas prices BBQ Better Business Bureau F rating
Arizona gets a Buc-ee’s and suddenly everyone’s gonna drive 45 minutes just for beaver nuggets??
I saw this on Facebook and was like wait, is this the one with the beaver nuggets candy? lol. Why are they going so far west now though, isn’t Phoenix already packed? Also $ maybe going up with all these new stores.
Buc-ee’s opening in Benton, Arkansas makes sense because Arkansas loves highways and vibes or whatever. But I don’t get the whole “furthest western” thing like Arizona is the west AND the south? Confusing. I just hope they have the same bbq stuff they had in Ohio.
By 2031 they’re in South Carolina too?? That’s insane, I swear they’re multiplying like it’s a video game. I thought the company was only Texas based so I’m like how do they afford all that building. And the article keeps saying “beaver nuggets” like people don’t know what that is (it’s like caramel corn right??). Anyway I’m not driving to Murfreesboro just for snacks but I probably will.