Buc-ee’s CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III recently said the fan-favorite convenience store chain will focus expansion efforts on “conservative” states.
According to The Independent, Aplin made the remarks last week during the grand opening of the first-ever Buc-ee’s location in Arkansas.
In a video shared on social media by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Aplin is heard giving his thoughts on which areas are best suited to the brand’s expansion.
“We have a lot of opportunities where we’re growing, we’re building in a lot of places,” he said. “But when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference. And I’m starting to realize that life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing.”
Aside from being conservative and business-friendly, Aplin also stated that Buc-ee’s-worthy locations should embody a third key value: being family-oriented.
“That leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership,” he explained. “From the very top at the governor’s office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representative.”
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a longtime proponent of Buc-ee’s in Florida, describing Aplin himself as a friend and political ally.
Several more Buc-ee’s locations are planned for the Sunshine State, too.
Below are a few of these expected locations and when they’re set to open:
OCALA
The upcoming Ocala location has been delayed until 2029, much later than originally expected. DeSantis has promoted this store, which is planned to open near Interstate 75.
In a news conference last year, he even joked that he approved an expansion project along that highway after learning that Buc-ee’s would be opening there.
“I said, ‘Sign me up,’” he explained at the time.
[PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DeSantis holds news conference to discuss I-75 project]
FT. PIERCE
According to TCPalm, another gas station is expected to open in Ft. Pierce sometime in 2027 or 2028.
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.
Those plans also show that the site may feature up to 120 gas pumps and well over 700 parking spots.
TALLAHASSEE
During the same news conference where DeSantis discussed the I-75 project in Ocala, he also claimed that a new Buc-ee’s is coming to the state capitol.
According to the governor, 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.
According to WCTV, this spot is expected to open in 2027.
PORT CHARLOTTE
Last year, News 6 also dug up property records showing that a rezoning project for a potential location was approved along Harborview Road near Interstate 75, clearing the way for over 650 acres of development.
North and east of the highway, the project is slated to bring in plenty of residential development, though a smaller parcel of land to the southwest of I-75 may potentially become home to a new Buc-ee’s gas station, county records reveal.
