If you’ve driven on the interstate throughout the southeastern portion of the United States, you’ve likely encountered a Buc-ee’s travel center. Buc-ee’s currently has locations in 13 different U.S. states, and while the chain is continually expanding, it doesn’t sound like they’ll be moving into Blue states anytime soon.
During a recent speech, Buc-ee’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III made it pretty clear that as the massive travel center expands, it will prioritize “conservative, business-friendly” states.
What is Buc-ee’s?
Founded in Texas in 1982, Buc-ee’s is a massive, highly popular American chain of mega-travel centers and convenience stores found on the side of interstates. The massive travel centers have become known for having dozens of fueling positions, notoriously clean and large restrooms, and an enormous selection of food and beaver-themed merchandise.
The massive travel centers include over 100 fuel pumps and a massive market that rivals the size of some supermarkets. Unlike most other travel centers, Buc-ee’s also bans semi-trucks, prioritizing travelers in cars and smaller personal vehicles.
Currently, Buc-ee’s exists in 13 different U.S. states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
‘Conservative, business-friendly states’
With Buc-ee’s opening a new location in Benton, Arkansas, Alpin gave a speech where he opened up a little bit about why Buc-ee’s chooses to open its stores where they do.
While he acknowledged that Buc-ee’s is expanding to “a lot of places,” he also made it pretty clear that the company will prioritize red states over blue states.
“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. And 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 in a video shared by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Of the 13 states where Buc-ee’s currently has at least one location, only one of those states – Colorado – is a solidly blue state. Aplin made it pretty clear that this is no accident.
“That leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept, works so much better if it trickles down from the leadership, from the very top of the governor’s office, at the congressmen, at the senators, at the mayors, the representatives. And so, what we found when we got here in Benton (Arkansas) was a business-friendly town,” he added. “They said ‘Let’s roll up our sleeves and let’s go get a Buc-ee’s built.'”
Needless to say, if you live in a blue state and are waiting for a Buc-ee’s location near you, you might be waiting a long time.
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