More Than Convenient

Every story needs a hook, an opening line so brilliant, the reader is compelled to reach the next line, so at first, the following words may feel like a lackadaisical start, “Another gas station may be coming to the Florida Panhandle.”

In most cases, such news would be buried and hardly worth mentioning, but when the gas station bears the name Buc-ee’s? Well, then people start to get excited.

Buc-ee’s is the mega gas station and convenience store chain that is spreading across the South after their start in Texas. You may have seen the big beaver character smiling from a sign as you pass by one on a freeway? Billboards will alert you a Buc-ee’s up ahead, even if it is 200 miles away.

So, what’s the big deal?

When a service station takes up 73 acres of land and has 120 fueling stations, people start to understand the importance and euphoria. That excitement has officials in both Leon and Gadsden counties rolling out the red carpet.

Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban is one of the early fans, saying he is “super excited” about the possibility the mega service station could pick Tallahassee as its location.

In early February, Buc-ee’s LTD from Lake Jackson, Texas filed a permitted use verification certificate with Leon County to build on the northwest side of Tallahassee.

“I try to explain to people it’s a one-stop travel destination,” Caban says about how he explains the impact a Buc-ee’s would have on the area. “It has everything from a grocery store to almost like a menu restaurant with sandwiches and high-quality food. They have a car wash, merchandise. I mean, it’s a 75,000-square-foot project, which is significant.”

Caban has visited a Buc-ee’s location near Daytona Beach and remembers it being “massive.” He also feels the impact on the Tallahassee community will be massive. “We’re anticipating around 200 hot dang jobs with competitive wages, full benefits, and retirement matching” he says, excitedly. He noted that approximately six jobs will have wages over $100,000 with full benefits.

Beyond that, Caban believes the station would contribute to local and state sales tax revenue while driving additional economic growth. “When this Buc-ee’s goes up, I really think it is going to create a kind of vacuum around that area, and you’ll see a lot of other economic development follow it.”

If the company does end up building in Leon County, officials in nearby Gadsden County also feel they can benefit.

Photos Courtesy of Buc-ee’s

T.J. Lewis, economic development director for Gadsden County, says officials there did reach out to Buc-ee’s and showed them a 20-acre location before news broke that they were pulling permits for Leon County. Their site in Gadsden County was just four miles from the proposed site in Leon County which is on the west side of Capital Circle Northwest, just north of Interstate 10.

Lewis is confident if Leon County does well, the positive impact will spread to his county like a wave.

“A rising tide lifts all ships, so to speak,” he says, “so we’re counting on that benefit.” He also adds that they are predicting enhancements to the transportation system that might come with the new business.

When Lewis first learned of the Buc-ee’s interest in the area, he thought that another gas station was redundant, at best. “That was my attitude,” he admits, not really understanding the impact of the chain until he saw it for himself.

On his first visit to Buc-ee’s, Lewis was impressed by how clean the store was and the amount of staff throughout, “… even people sweeping up rocks in the parking lot.” He also was amazed by the amount of gas pumps, which number more than 100, but for him the EV charging stations were a big draw because he is an EV driver.

The Buc-ee’s chain is known for its beaver mascot, seen throughout the store and stamped on the hundreds of different products and clothing merchandise. According to Southern Living magazine, the rodent mascot’s name came from founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin, who opened the first store in Texas in 1982. He combined his childhood nickname, Beaver, with the name of his Labrador retriever, Buck. So, Buc-ee’s was born.

The stores are all open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Buc-ee’s says their barbecue is made in-house daily, and travelers can watch their employees slice up Texas brisket and package sandwiches from a large station in the store. The same goes with fudge, which they make in-house and serve behind a showcase counter (pro tip, they give out samples on request.) And the most popular snack food is Beaver Nuggets, which are corn puffs coated with caramel, sugar, and butter. 

From that first store, Buc-ee’s has since spread east throughout the South and now has more than 50 locations. They opened their first non-Texas store in Alabama in 2019. On their website, they tout a couple of world records and awards. In 2012, they were recognized by Cintas, a cleaning supply company, in a nationwide restroom contest as having the cleanest restrooms in America.

For any seasoned traveler, no value can be placed on the sight of a clean restroom in the midst of a long journey. Even better that despite having constant high volumes of visitors, there is always a free toilet.

And for world records, they claim to have the longest car wash at 255 feet of conveyor. Their Luling, Texas store is the largest convenience store in the world at 75,593 square feet. For a size reference, the size of Buc-ee’s stores are noted as being larger than a football field.

According to the permit filed in Leon County, the proposed location for the new Buc-ee’s would encompass 75,000 square feet on a 73.29-acre parcel. It says, “The travel center building will include predominantly retail use with accessory fast-food service (no drive-through). The site plan includes 120 fueling stations, 8 DEF positions, 795 standard parking spaces, 24 EV parking spaces, and 11 bus/RV parking spaces.

Kerri Post, executive director of Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee), expects an influx of tourists stopping at the attraction.

Photos Courtesy of Buc-ee’s

“Buc-ee’s will raise Tallahassee-Leon County’s profile along the I-10 corridor, helping transform a quick pit stop into an invitation for travelers to linger and explore
the culture, charm, and character that make our community unique,” she says.

Commissioner Caban agrees with that idea, speaking about the customers. “A Buc-ee’s brings in people from out of town—thousands of them every day,” he says. Caban feels the money generated from gas, sales, and property taxes, mostly from nonresident, is money that can be reinvested back into the community.

As of the deadline for this article, local officials have met with Buc-ee’s officials multiple times and are working through an issue with the height of the sign and now are waiting on Buc-ee’s to submit a full site plan and environmental permitting, Caban says.

Caban says he can’t speak on behalf of Buc-ee’s as to when the store could be open. “But I do know they mean business, and they like to move quick.”

The work to bring a Buc-ee’s to the area is an investment Caban feels is worth the effort and will benefit the community. “One thing that’s unique about Buc-ee’s, they really do invest back into the community, and they have a good reputation of being a good neighbor and supporting local initiatives and nonprofits.”

Caban adds, “They could have chosen a lot of places along the Panhandle. We are just happy and excited that they chose Leon County.”

There are still a few legal dams that must be built before the beaver settles, such as two public hearings, more permitting, and reviews. If all goes smoothly, the store could be open as early as the fall of this year. ▪