Saudi Firm Brings Westfield Malls to Kingdom Amid Tourism Push
Saudi Arabia's largest mall operator is bringing Westfield-branded shopping centers to the kingdom, in a bid to capitalize on the government's push to drawn as many as 150 million tourists annually by 2030.
Arabian Centres Co. has inked a 10-year franchising deal with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE, with an option to extend for another decade, the firms said in a statement. The initial phase of the deal will focus on three malls, which will be re-branded as Westfield centers.
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5 hours ago
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New, big Buc-ee's in Mississippi will open soon. What to know about when, where
If you've never been to a Buc-ee's Travel Center, there's one thing you've got to know. It's not just a destination — it's an experience. For many Mississippi residents, the fun will be closer to home now that the first Buc-ee's in the state is opening soon. To prepare visitors ahead of the grand opening, we recently visited the Robertsdale, Alabama, location (also known as the Loxley store), to get a closer look at what the hype is all about. "We're known for being an experience for people to come and enjoy that's going to be clean, safe, and a place where family can all have a good time," general manager Richard Shires said. Meadie Rigsby, a New Orleans native who lives in Magee, tries to take a break at the store when she can. "You can't help but stop. You always see something new, and you always see somebody you know," she said. "Even if you don't know them, everybody is smiling when you walk in here. It's just something to see." Shires said it's the friendliness and the cleanliness that make visitors enjoy the experience, but there is a whole lot more. "We have great food, great merchandise and Buc-ee-branded merchandise," Shires said. "Some people number all the Buc-ee's they've been to. Some have been to all of them, and they have all the destination shirts that they show off." Here's what you need to know about when Mississippi's Buc-ee's will open, what you can expect from the chain that has a cult following, from clean bathroom, to custom clothes to Beaver Nuggets. The first Buc-ee's Travel Center in Mississippi will open on Monday, June 9. After it opens, there will be 34 locations. Two more are set to open by the end of summer, Shires said. Check this out: Mississippi Aquarium beaver billboards show similarities with new Buc-ee's opening soon The new store is on Interstate 10 at the Menge Avenue exit in Pass Christian. All Buc-ee's are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, according to the company website. Whether you're on the road passing through the state or just getting gas after work, the travel center is big enough to handle it all. First, you'll notice how large Buc-ee's is compared to other travel centers. The Mississippi location is about 74,000 square feet. That's 20,000 square feet bigger than the Robertsdale location. Shires said the Mississippi store will have three entrances, larger restrooms and, well, just more. There are 120 fuel pumps, which means there is rarely a long wait to fill up. Buses and RVs are allowed, but 18-wheelers are not. There are also 24 charging stations for electric vehicles. "We're known for our clean restrooms," Shires said. The restrooms have attendants who make sure the facilities are clean. Artwork by local artists lines the hallway to the restrooms, and the paintings are for sale if anyone takes a fancy to them. He said consistency at every store and for every visit is essential to the brand. While you're filling up the gas tank, the rest of the family can wander inside. This is where the fun begins. Anywhere you look, there will be rows and rows of almost everything. Each store has food, clothing, outdoor furniture, grills, toys, and more. Shires said he estimates visitors spend between 30 and 45 minutes inside, looking at all the products, using the restroom, getting a bite to eat and migrating to their favorite areas. "They get sidetracked," he said. "They can get broken away from their parties and have to find them." One thing that doesn't take much time inside a Buc-ee's? Waiting in like to check out at the cash register. "It's a very fast experience once they get to that part," Shires said. Veterans of Buc-ee's know the Beaver Nuggets are the most popular snacks at the travel centers. They're great for munching on long road trips or gifting to friends. There are rows and rows of various candies, chips and other snack foods, some with the Buc-ee's brand, which is continuously expanding, Shires said. Gummies, chocolates, jelly beans, taffy, hard candy, sours — you name it, Buc-ee's has it. The same goes for snacks. Potato chips, roasted nuts and cheese puffs all come in a variety of flavors that will please just about any palate. Jerky fans will be pleased to know there is a wall of jerky with roughly 20 varieties to choose — or should we say chews — from. Want something a little extra for snacking on? Wander to the center of the store, where most of the action is, and your taste buds will be heightened by the scent of roasted nuts, kolaches and fresh-made fudge. Brook Hill and Bayleigh Hill, both of Laurel, were at the fudge counter, where they were trying to decide which of the 22 flavors to buy. They were on their way to Disney World in Florida when they stopped at Buc-ee's for a break. "We thought, just go ahead and get the fudge, you'll walk it off," Bayleigh said. Whether you like chocolate, with or without nuts, peanut butter, rocky road or other flavors, you can pick your own for a sampler box or buy just a few for the road. It's made in-house, so it's always fresh. The Hills were off to the meat counter next, where they were looking forward to getting a sandwich. The stores have roasted pecans, cashews and other nut varieties. You can also buy prepackaged nuts and fudge in the snack area for convenience, but those are made off-site. You might be wondering, what's a kolache? It's a pastry filled with something sweet or something savory that originated in the Czech Republic and popular in Texas where Buc-ee's originates. It's a little more dense than a Danish pastry, but very similar in appearance. Pre-packaged desserts and fresh snacks are nearby for easy pick up or you can find some hot apple pie on a stick at the Texas Roundup station. Find summer fun near home: Mississippi is one of best places for cheap road trips. While Buc-ee's doesn't have a sit-down restaurant, you can get fresh-cooked brisket, smoked turkey or pulled pork sandwiches to enjoy on the road. Pick up some Beaver Chips to go with your sandwich and you've got the makings of a hot meal. "The food — oh gosh, you can't help but get something in here," Rigsby said. Jeff Wilson, who lives in Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, about 30 miles south of Duluth, was coming from Perdido Key, Florida, with his wife to pick up lunch at Buc-ee's, even though it was about an hour to an hour and a half drive. It was the couple's third trip. The sandwiches are prepared in an open kitchen where customers can pick up pre-made ones sitting under the food warmer or wait for the "fresh brisket on the board" from the Texas Roundup station. "We didn't even eat before we left," Brook said. "We said we'd eat when we got to Buc-ee's. Their meat is the best." There are tacos, burritos and more served hot and fresh, too. With its roots in Texas, Buc-ee's wouldn't be Buc-ee's without them. You can choose from the many Buc-ee's brand hot sauce flavors or dry rub and seasoning blends to pack away for the trip home. There is also a barbecue sauce, but it comes in only one flavor, as it's Buc-ee's signature sauce. Pickled products, including cucumbers, jalapenos and quail eggs, also fill shelves. Other items to help you ramp up your culinary skills, like cutting boards, kitchen or grill utensils and serving dishes, are dotted throughout he store. Dinnerware and glassware in a variety of styles are also kept in stock. Humorous signs and other accessories add the perfect accents to the kitchen or patio. Buc-ee's even has books that show you how to make your favorite dish or cocktail. Toys, sporting goods, outdoor cooking and camping equipment are among the many, many things customers can buy at Buc-ee's that can fill the hours with fun. Books, boogie boards and board games can help vacationers pass the time while in between activities. Nine-year-old Scarlet Stender of Piggott, Arkansas, was looking at some of the Buc-ee's clothing, jewelry and stuffed animals, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I want everything," she said. "There's so much fun stuff." It's not only geared toward kids. Handmade soaps, lotions and candles in many scents fill the spa section. Neck warmers and pillows, terrycloth robes and comfy slippers, hair accessories, makeup mirrors and other accessories finish off the experience. Clothing for men, women and children, with and without the Buc-ee's brand fill the store, outfitting the entire family from newborns to great-grandparents. Each store has its own special shirt bearing the location and Buc-ee's logo. Wilson said he and his wife bought some hats and T-shirts to take home for friends. His wife also bought a few outfits for the couple's new grandchild. If you don't feel like you've had a day at the mall, you haven't had a full Buc-ee's experience. But don't worry. It takes time to become a Buc-ee's veteran. Visit the travel centers a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Just remember to set yourself a budget or you could end up in a beaver stew. Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@ Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: First Buc-ee's in Mississippi will open soon. What you need to know
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
How big is the new MS Buc-ee's? When does it open? How many gas pumps, electric chargers?
If you've never been to a Buc-ee's Travel Center, there's one thing you've got to know. Buc-ee's isn't just a destination — it's an experience. That experience will be closer to home now that Buc-ee's is opening a travel center in Mississippi. The grand opening is set for Monday, June 9. Buc-ee's is located off Interstate 10 at the Menge Avenue exit in Pass Christian. "We're known for being an experience for people to come and enjoy that's going to be clean, safe, and a place where family can all have a good time," said Richard Shires, general manager of the Robertsdale, Alabama travel center. Meadie Rigsby, a New Orleans native who lives in Magee, was at the Robertsdale store when we visited. She said Shires' opinion is spot-on. Rigsby was on her way home from Florida, where she was visiting family. "I try to stop by here every time I come through," she said. "You can't help but stop. You always see something new, and you always see somebody you know. Even if you don't know them, everybody is smiling when you walk in here. It's just something to see." Mississippians like Rigsby will have the opportunity to enjoy the Buc-ee's experience at home once the Mississippi center opens. To prepare visitors ahead of the grand opening, we recently visited the Robertsdale Buc-ee's (also known as the Loxley store), to get a closer look at what the hype is all about. Shires said it's the friendliness and the cleanliness that make visitors enjoy the Buc-ee's experience, but there is a whole lot more. "We have great food, great merchandise and Buc-ee-branded merchandise," Shires said. "Some people number all the Buc-ee's they've been to. Some have been to all of them, and they have all the destination shirts that they show off." Consistency between locations and between visits is important to Buc-ee's, too, according to Shires. The company wants to make sure their customers get the same great service every time they visit, whether it's at the same location or one they've never been to before. When the Pass Christian location opens, there will be 34 Buc-ee's travel centers. Two more are set to open by the end of summer, Shires said. That's a lot of T-shirts. Whether you're on the road passing through the state or just getting gas after work, the travel center is big enough to handle it all. First off, you'll notice how big Buc-ee's is compared with other travel centers. The Mississippi location is roughly 74,000 square feet — 20,000 square feet bigger than the Robertsdale location. Shires said the Mississippi store will have three entrances, larger restrooms and well, just more of what the store in Robertsdale has to offer. There are 120 pumps, which means there is rarely a long wait to fill up. And, while buses and RVs are allowed, 18-wheelers are not. For those of you with EVs, not to worry. There are not one, not two, but 24 charging stations. While you're filling up the gas tank, the rest of the family can wander inside. This is where the fun begins. Anywhere you look, there will be rows and rows of well, everything: Food, clothing, outdoor furniture, grills, toys, and more. Shires said he estimates visitors will spend between 30 and 45 minutes inside the travel center, looking at all the products, using the restroom, getting a bite to eat, and migrating to their favorite areas. "They get sidetracked," Shires said. "They can get broken away from their parties and have to find them." One thing that doesn't take up customers' time inside a Buc-ee's? Waiting in like to check out at the cash register, Shires said. "It's a very fast experience once they get to that part," he said. Veterans of Buc-ee's know the Beaver Nuggets are the most popular snacks at the travel centers. They're great for munching on long road trips or gifting to friends. There are rows and rows of various candies, chips and other snack foods, some with the Buc-ee's brand, which is continuously expanding, Shires said. Gummies, chocolates, jelly beans, taffy, hard candy, sours — you name it, Buc-ee's has it. Same goes for snacks. Potato chips, roasted nuts, cheese puffs, all come in a variety of flavors that will please just about any palate. Jerky fans will be pleased to know there is a wall of jerky with roughly 20 varieties to choose — or should we say chews — from. Want something a little extra for snacking on? Wander to the center of the store, where most of the action is, and your taste buds will be heightened by the scent of roasted nuts, fresh-made fudge, kolaches and more. Whether you like chocolate, with or without nuts, peanut butter, rocky road or other fudge flavors, you pick your own for a sampler box or buy just a few for the road. The fudge is made in-house, so it's always fresh. Brook Hill and Bayleigh Hill, both of Laurel, were at the fudge counter, where they were trying to decide which of the 22 flavors to buy. They were on their way to Disney World in Florida when they stopped at Buc-ee's for a break. "We thought, just go ahead and get the fudge, you'll walk it off," Bayleigh said. The Hills were off to the meat counter next, where they were looking forward to getting a fresh-made sandwich. "We didn't even eat before we left," Brook said. "We said we'd eat when we got to Buc-ee's. Their meat is the best." Same goes for the roasted pecans, cashews and other nut varieties. You can also buy prepackaged nuts and fudge in the snack area for convenience, but those are made off-site. You might be wondering, what's a kolache? It's a pastry filled with something sweet or something savory that originated in the Czech Republic and popular in Texas where Buc-ee's originates. It's a little more dense than a Danish pastry, but very similar in appearance. Pre-packaged desserts and fresh snacks are nearby for easy pick up or you can find some hot apple pie on a stick at the Texas Roundup station. While Buc-ee's doesn't have a sit-down restaurant, you can get fresh-cooked brisket, smoked turkey or pulled pork sandwiches to enjoy on the road. Pick up some Beaver Chips to go with your sandwich and you've got the makings of a hot meal. "The food — oh gosh, you can't help but get something in here," Rigsby said. Jeff Wilson, who lives in Stugeon Lake, Minnesota, about 30 miles south of Duluth, was coming from Perdido Key, Florida, with his wife to pick up lunch at Buc-ee's, even though it was about an hour to an hour and a half drive. It was the couple's third trip. The sandwiches are prepared in an open kitchen where customers can pick up pre-made ones sitting under the food warmer or wait for the "fresh brisket on the board" from the Texas Roundup station. There are tacos, burritos and more served hot and fresh, too. With its roots in Texas, Buc-ee's wouldn't be Buc-ee's without them. Specialty hot sauces can make great additions to your kitchen or fun gifts for family and friends. You can choose from the many Buc-ee's brand hot sauce flavors to pack away for the trip home. There is a barbecue sauce at Buc-ee's, too, but it only comes in one flavor since it's Buc-ee's signature sauce. Dry rubs and special seasoning blends can be found at Buc-ee's, too. Pickled products with everything from cucumbers to jalapenos to quail eggs also fill store shelves. Other items to help you ramp up your culinary skills may be found throughout the store, including cutting boards, kitchen or grill utensils and serving dishes to elevate the at-home experience. Dinnerware and glassware in a variety of styles are also kept in stock. Humorous signs and other accessories add the perfect accents to the kitchen or patio. Buc-ee's even has books that show you how to make your favorite cocktail, whether it's a martini, a mule or a mango margarita. Toys, sporting goods, outdoor cooking and camping equipment are among the many, many things customers can buy at Buc-ee's that can fill the hours with fun. Books, boogie boards and board games can help vacationers pass the time while in between activities. Nine-year-old Scarlet Stender of Piggott, Arkansas, was looking at some of the Buc-ee's clothing, jewelry and stuffed animals, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I want everything," she said. "There's so much fun stuff." Even though it was Scarlet's first time at the Robertsdale store, she's been to a Buc-ee's before, when her family visited the Fort Worth, Texas, area. Well, Buc-ee's doesn't have a spa, but what it has will make you feel like you visited one. Handmade soaps, lotions and candles in many scents fill the spa section of Buc-ee's. Neck warmers and pillows, terry cloth robes and comfy slippers, hair accessories, makeup mirrors and other accessories finish off the spa experience. Clothing for men, women and children, both with and without the Buc-ee's brand fill the store, outfitting the entire family from the newborns to the great-grandparents. Each Buc-ee's has its own special shirts bearing the location and Buc-ee's brand, which can be given as gifts or kept for souvenirs. Wilson said he and his wife bought some hats and T-shirts to take home for friends. His wife also bought a few outfits for the couple's new grandchild. If you don't feel like you've had a day at the mall, you haven't had a full Buc-ee's experience. But don't worry. It takes time to become a Buc-ee's veteran. Visit the travel centers a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Just remember to set yourself a budget or you could end up in a beaver stew. The restrooms have attendants who make sure the facilities are clean. Artwork by local artists lines the hallway to the restrooms. The paintings are for sale if anyone takes a fancy to them. "We're known for our clean restrooms," Shires said. Customers aren't the only ones who have a good time at Buc-ee's. The company wants its employees to enjoy the experience just as much as the customers do, Shires said. Amanda Lott, who has been working at the Robertsdale store for about a year. She said she likes working at Buc-ee's because it's always busy and she gets to meet new people. "People are coming from all over the world," she said. "It's really neat." The company does its best to hire people who are a good fit, and there is very little turnover. "You have people who want to be here and are in such good moods," Shires said. "It keeps the customers coming back." Employees are paid top wages, another perk to working at Buc-ee's, but it also makes the hiring process more selective. "We want to pay them what they're worth," Shires said. "We want to show that we appreciate them as a company. "We're focused on their experience as well as the customers." Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@ Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: When is Buc-ee's in Mississippi opening?
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Powder Mill Road to get a full rehabilitation
SOUTHWICK — The DPW let the Select Board know last Monday it will start applying for state grants to do a complete renovation of Powder Mill Road, one of the town's most degraded roads. 'The road does need some work,' DPW Director Randy Brown said on Wednesday about the road's condition. 'It's a multiphase and multiyear project,' he added. The road, which is nine-tenths of a mile long, has been on the DPW's priority list of road rehabilitation projects for several years. That list is used by the Select Board when deciding which projects will be funded using money allocated during Town Meeting each year. In 2022, the town was awarded a $115,500 grant from the state's Rural and Small Town Development Fund for the redesign of the road, Brown said. The design, which was done by Westfield-based Tighe & Bond, was completed in 2024, he said, and has been waiting for state grant opportunities to become available, he said. The redesign, which is estimated to cost $1.86 million, is comprehensive, which Brown called a 'big price.' He said once the project is completed, it will connect the regional district's schools, the Southwick Recreation Center, Whalley Park and the rail trail with sidewalks. But before the sidewalks are installed, Brown said the road needs to be realigned. A portion of the current road is not in the center of the town's right of way, and if it isn't shifted, the sidewalks would be built on private property, which is not an option for the town, he said. Also included in the rehabilitation will be new drainage and an upsized water line. Hesitant to provide a time frame for when the project might be started and completed, he said it was dependent on the grants it could secure from the state. Two of the grants Brown said the department would be applying for is a Safe Routes to School, which is a state program, as is the Complete Streets Funding Program. When the town's Stormwater Coordinator Jon Goddard informed the Select Board that the DPW would be seeking the Community One Stop for Growth grant to cover a portion of the project's cost. Read the original article on MassLive.
