Buc-ee’s, the convenience store chain with a cult following, has been on a huge growth spree lately.
The beloved store opened its first non-Texas location in 2019; since then it has grown to nine states.
And last night, the local government for Kansas City approved the first new Buc-ee’s in Kansas.
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According to reporting by FOX4, Kansas City’s new Buc-ee’s will be about 74,000 square feet and have 120 gas pumps, plus 12 electric vehicle charging stations.
That puts it about on par with Sevierville, Tennessee’s Buc-ee’s that was opened last year, clocking in at 74,707 square feet.
(Sevierville’s Buc-ee’s was the largest in the world at the time, although it’s since been knocked off by a remodel at the Luling, Texas location.)
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This Buc-ee’s is expected to employ about 200 people with a starting wage of $18-$21 per hour.
(Which is otherwise unheard-of in convenience stores.)
And the building is expected to cost a cool $95 million, with some public finance to help Buc-ee’s out along the way.
But the biggest news about this has nothing to do with any of that…
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Get this – Buc-ee’s expects 4 MILLION visitors a year to this location.
You heard that right.
That’s because Buc-ee’s specifically designs these stores to be a “destination” on the way to wherever you’re driving.
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If you’ve never been inside a Buc-ee’s, they’re (as you can guess)…big.
I mean, 74,000 square feet is about half the size of a Costco.
So there’s a lot of space for…just about anything you can imagine.
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The idea here is that Buc-ee’s is just so different from what you’re used to experiencing that people will feel like they have to check it out and see what all the buzz is about.
And then they’ll get sucked in – by the homemade barbecue, the plushies, the sauces, the fudge, the food, the clothes, all the things.
And end up spending a bunch of money! (And be really happy about it too.)
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This Buc-ee’s is going to get built on a 25-acre plot of land, which is generally a pretty expensive proposition.
That’s one of the reasons Buc-ee’s generally tries to build in suburbs and exurbs – cheaper land than downtown.
(And the particular location they’re going for this time – 601 Village West Parkway – is literally right next to the Kansas Speedway. Perfect location.)
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The current thinking Is that construction will start in May 2025 and take about two years – so with any luck, this Buc-ee’s will be open in Spring or Summer 2027!
Where do YOU think Buc-ee’s should build next? Let us know in the comments!
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