Buc-ee’s used to be special.
You know?
The kind of place you only found on a road trip, where you could poke around and discover all kinds of cool stuff.
Cheap, great quality food…and lots of it…
Fun merch…
The works.
Now here’s the thing –
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I love Buc-ee’s.
Beaver Nuggets are some of my favorite snacks out there.
The clean bathrooms, the friendly staff – there’s still a lot to love about it.
But if you’re feeling like Buc-ee’s just isn’t as good as it used to be, then know that you’re not alone – and here’s why:
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Buc-ee’s stores are incredibly popular these days, and it’s just a constant traffic jam to get in and out.
I want to be clear here – the gas pumps are great, usually you don’t have to wait to get gas.
But the moment you step inside, it’s a madhouse.
Buc-ee’s revealed in documents tied to their planned Kansas City location that they expect 4 million visitors every year there.
And visiting other Buc-ee’s around the country, it feels like they’re not all that far behind.
There are just too many people!
And relatedly…
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Buc-ee’s used to be this well-kept secret.
I mean, as much as a 50,000+ square foot superstore beloved throughout the state of Texas can be a well-kept secret.
But like – it used to be that the rest of the country didn’t know all about it.
Now with Buc-ee’s going everywhere, everyone knows about it, everyone’s getting the merch, everyone’s stopping and crowding it up.
It’s just too much.
And speaking of too much…
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If everyone loves it, charge more for it, right?
I hate that. (Especially with eggs.)
Well, time was that Buc-ee’s food was pretty inexpensive.
But today if you want their big brisket sandwich, it costs a whopping $12.99!
That’s more than you should pay for a full meal, much less just a sandwich.
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If you’re a long-time Buc-ee’s fan, you know that their fresh, hot food options have declined over the years.
Buc-ee’s has been trimming its menu, eliminating fan favorites (all in the name, I assume, of efficiency).
It’s disappointing for sure.
I can buy Doritos anywhere, why would I stop at Buc-ee’s for those?
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I don’t know what happened, but when I got their Beaver Nuggets recently, they just weren’t as good as I remembered.
The taste was a little cloyingly sweet, if I’m being honest, and I’m now comfortable saying that there are similar (better) options out there that have nothing to do with Buc-ee’s.
I’ve been hearing from friends about a decline in other food quality, too – not just their pre-packaged stuff.
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Listen, I’m getting older, and like everyone else I have to watch what I eat (at least sometimes).
If the taste isn’t there…the fact that most of Buc-ee’s food is pretty bad for you starts to matter more.
And of course, you can stock up on healthier snacks and meals at plenty of other roadtrip stops.
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Buc-ee’s makes pretty good BBQ.
Their fudge is pretty good.
Their pastries are pretty good.
But there are better options in each category. Your local bakery, any of a number of BBQ joints, etc.
And as competition has heated up, it’s easier than ever to get better options.
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Fact of the matter is that lots of competitors have stepped up their game.
Lots of gas stations now have clean bathrooms – Sheetz, Wawa, and Love’s come to mind.
Lots of gas stations now have great hot food – Sheetz and Wawa again, plus QuikTrip, Rutter’s, Weigels, and more.
Plenty of gas stations have their own quirky personality too.
There’s just not as much that makes Buc-ee’s “special” versus these other guys anymore.
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When going to a convenience store, “convenience” is the name of the game.
And as Buc-ee’s have ballooned in size to over 70,000 square feet (about twice the size of your local grocery store)…it’s gotten really hard to get in and out quickly.
(The crowds don’t help either.)
This is meant to be a quick stop on a roadtrip, not an all-day delay!
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If you’re feeling disappointed in Buc-ee’s for any or all of the above reasons, you are absolutely not alone.
(Of course, if your experience has been different, I completely respect that. Maybe I and the people I’ve talked to have just been unlucky or visited at the wrong time.)
But I do think it’s worth having the conversation about whether Buc-ee’s is still as good as it used to be.
And now it’s your turn…
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So what do you think?
Has Buc-ee’s declined?
Or is it better than ever?
Let us know in the comments section!
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