Convenience store Buc-ee’s has quietly backtracked on plans to open its largest store in Florida, in a blow to the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis.
Initially, the plan was to open an 80,000-square-foot store in the Sunshine State, which would have made it the largest Buc-ee’s.
But this week, Buc-ee’s real estate chief Stan Beard said it will actually measure 74,000 square feet.
That leaves the Florida location just shy of the 75,000-square-foot Texas store opening next month in Luling, which is 50 miles south of Austin. It will have the title of largest Buc-ee in the world and will have 120 gas service stations.
The clarification is an embarrassment for DeSantis, who had boasted about how great the Florida Buc-ee’s would be.
Convenience store Buc-ee’s has quietly backtracked on plans to open its largest store in Florida (Pictured: Buc-ee’s – Luling Texas)
Initially, the plan was to open an 80,000-square-foot store, securing the title of largest, however, Stan Beard, Buc-ee’s director of real estate and development, clarified in a statement that it will actually measure 74,000 square feet ( Pictured: Florida Buc-ee’s)
In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida had announced the news that the state hoped to have the third Buc-ee’s opening in the state of Florida.
The next Florida store in Marion County will be on land near Interstate 75, north of Ocala, and will open in 2025.
The Texas Buc-ee’s will take the “largest” title from the current record holder in Sevierville, Tennessee, which measures 74,000 square feet.
“The new Buc-ee’s Luling will be the largest Buc-ee’s location in the country, bringing the greatest Buc-ee’s to the place where the legend began,” the release states.
Regarding the location in Florida, STan Beard, the retailer’s director of real estate, clarified in a statement that: “Buc-ee’s is currently in the design and permitting phase for a 74,000-square-foot store in Ocala, FL, which is our largest store model. outside the state of Texas.’
‘Buc-ee’s new Marion County travel center will be located at the soon-to-be-built intersection of I-75 and NW 49th Street. FDOT, Marion County and the Governor’s Office have been outstanding partners in this project and we expect construction of the highway to begin late this year or early 2025.’
‘Buc-ee’s will closely follow FDOT’s timeline and we intend to open the store shortly after the exchange is completed. “We are thrilled to be on the west coast of Florida and grateful to all those who have helped us get here.”
In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida had announced the news that the state expected to hAve and a huge Buc-ee’s.
‘It’s the Shangri La of service stations. It will be an 80,000 square foot store. “It will have 120 fuel pumps and more than 720 parking spaces,” DeSantis said at the time.
Floridians have mixed emotions at news of the reduction: Some expressed disappointment, while others were relieved that the new location likely won’t generate as much traffic as expected.
Floridians have mixed emotions at the news of the reduction
Some expressed disappointment, while others were relieved that the new location will likely generate less traffic than anticipated.
Buc-ee’s convenience store, recognized for its “world’s cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and the friendliest beaver,” according to its press release, will open in Luling, Texas next month, and will feature an impressive footprint of 75,000 square feet and 120 service stations.
Today, Buc-ee’s is known for having hundreds of gas pumps everywhere, tens of thousands of square feet of retail space, meticulously clean restrooms, and, of course, a friendly beaver named Buc-ee as a pet.
This adjustment will leave the Florida location just shy of the 75,000-square-foot Texas store, which currently holds the title of the world’s largest Buc-ee’s. (Pictured: Aerial view of the newly built Buc-ee’s in Luling, Texas)
‘Thank God! These things are a traffic farce,” one wrote.
Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s was originally a Texas road trip center chain, but has since expanded to the rest of the southern United States.
Today, Buc-ee’s is known for having hundreds of gas pumps everywhere, tens of thousands of square feet of retail space, meticulously clean restrooms, and, of course, a friendly beaver named Buc-ee as a pet.
As one Florida travel influencer described Buc-ee’s in a tiktok video: ‘It’s much more than a simple gas station. It’s more like a gas station meets a Cracker Barrel meets a Walmart meets a Bass Pro Shops. Has it all.’
Many Texans are already beside themselves with excitement to claim the crown of largest store when the Luling location opens later this month.
It will replace the city’s current Buc-ee’s store, which was the brand’s first family travel center, built in 2003, the company’s press release details.
Buc-ee’s favorites such as Texas barbecue, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pies will be available, he added.
A man, named Glennshares, posted a video on Tik Tok this April enthusiastically recapping the entire construction process of the new store.
He had periodically driven by the construction site for about a year and a half, taking videos of the progress, bit by bit.
In January 2023, the main building was built, but there was no gas pump. A year later, things really started to look up: much of the construction equipment was gone and the fuel supply lines were ready to go.
Pictured: the store’s famous ‘Beaver Nuggets’, which are actually candy corn.
Pictured: The spacious interior of the Tennessee Buc-ee’s that used to be the largest convenience store in the world.
The Luling Buc-ee will have 120 fuel pumps and will occupy more than 75,000 square feet (more than 1.3 times the size of a football field).
Buc-ee’s cute red shirt beaver mascot, which is so popular that even unauthorized third parties sell it online.
Buc-ee’s is known for having rows and rows of beef jerky for travel-weary visitors to choose from.
The store has 120 gasoline pumps, a Grilled brisket counter with a “Texas pick station” and rows and rows of beef jerky.
But perhaps the most popular thing to eat at Buc-ee’s is their famous Beaver Nuggets: caramel corn.
The other side of the store sells merchandise, including t-shirts, mugs, socks, stickers, swimsuits and other items emblazoned with Buc-ee’s beaver.
Sevierville Buc-ee’s, which has 400 full-time employees, also has a 250-foot car wash.
When the new Luling store opens, the company will have a total of 50 stores in Texas and the South.
It also has plans to expand beyond its current presence in the South, looking to open new stores in Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Missouri in the coming years.