Latest news with #Buc-ee
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's grand opening in Mississippi is June 9: Here are 5 things to know before you go
Many fans and curiosity seekers are getting excited about the first Buc-ee's travel center opening soon in south Mississippi. There are a few things visitors need to know about the new location ahead of the June 9 grand opening. The Buc-ee's travel center will officially open at 6 a.m. Monday, June 9, but expect a crowd to pile up ahead of the store's opening. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. June 9. Once the store is open, it will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The Buc-ee's travel center in Mississippi is at 8245 Firetower Road in Pass Christian. Motorists can take Exit 24-Menge Avenue from Interstate 10, which turns into Firetower Road north of the interstate. Buc-ee's locations do not have individual phone numbers, but the company offers a website to help customers get help with what they need: According to Southern Living, Buc-ee's founder Arch Aplin III was nicknamed "Beaver" as a child, which carried into his adulthood as the company's mascot. Alpin also had a Labrador retriever named Buck, from which he derived the company's name. The company was started in Texas in 1982. Buc-ee's stakes its reputation on friendly service, fresh food and the cleanest bathrooms. The travel centers are more like a department store with areas for clothing, home decor, sporting goods, food and more. The Pass Christian location, like other travel centers, will offer 120 gas pumps and 24 EV charging stations at the 74,000-square-foot facility, joining the company's other travel centers in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Colorado. 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: Buc-ee's in Mississippi: 5 things to know
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Holy airball trend goes viral as TikTok users fake ties to famous brands and celebrities
A humorous trend sweeping TikTok has users pretending to be heirs to famous families or business empires — often without a shred of truth. Called the 'holy airball' trend, these posts feature people making outlandish claims about their family connections, sometimes tricking viewers before revealing the punchline. Carson Beaver, one participant, went viral after posting a slideshow suggesting he was related to the Buc-ee's convenience store chain — thanks to his last name. "Everybody's always associated the Buc-ee beaver with me," Beaver told The New York Times, explaining the long-running joke. Despite clarifying that he has no real connection to the store, the post racked up more than 6.5 million views and sparked widespread speculation. Similarly, Laura Bustelo used her last name to suggest a tie to the popular coffee brand Café Bustelo. Although she had no actual affiliation, her TikTok video snowballed into viral attention, with commenters labeling her 'coffee royalty.' Despite a disclaimer, viewers debated the video's authenticity in the comments. 'I think people just naturally aren't readers,' she remarked. Some social media users appear to have changed their usernames to mimic well-known brands solely to participate in the trend. Yet the appeal isn't limited to imposters. Actual children of celebrities are joining in too. Zoe Jackson, daughter of former American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and Francesca Scorsese, daughter of director Martin Scorsese, both shared tongue-in-cheek posts that played on their family fame. The term 'holy airball,' often styled with an expletive, refers to a basketball shot that misses everything — rim and backboard included. In the context of the trend, it underscores the shock or surprise when the final reveal hits. The blend of fact and fiction has fueled the trend's viral rise, showing just how easily social media can blur reality.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Port St. Lucie woman dies in crash; police investigation ongoing
PORT ST. LUCIE −Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that led to the death of a Port St. Lucie woman, a police spokesperson said. The crash involving a 2011 BMW 128i and 2023 Kia Sportage occurred May 26, around 1:30 p.m., at the intersection of Northwest Glades Cut Off Road and Northwest Commerce Center Drive, according to a Port St. Lucie Police Department news release. Joan Latowski, 72, was the passenger in the BMW car driven by John Latowski, 74, and both were taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce where Joan Latowski was pronounced deceased and John Latowski remains in critical condition, the release stated. The driver and three passengers of the Kia sport utility vehicle were also taken to the hospital in Fort Pierce with what were said to be non-life-threatening injuries. According to police, early results of the investigation indicate the Kia, driven by Cierra Lloyd, 24, of Fort Pierce, was traveling west on Northwest Commerce Center Drive and failed to yield to the right of way of the BMW which was traveling westbound on Northwest Glades Cut Off Road. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, police said. Neither driver had any sign of being impaired, the release stated. Police are asking for anyone who either witnessed or has a recording of the crash to contact investigators at 772-871-5001 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477. Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246. More: What's that on U.S. 1 south of Oslo Road in Indian River County? More: Buc-ee's near Fort Pierce not on planned locations list; project awaiting final approvals More: State Attorney, St. Lucie Sheriff announce reopening of 2006 Florida's Turnpike murders case This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Police investigate crash leading to death of Port St. Lucie woman
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
How small c-stores can survive
From the rise and fall of the COVID-19 pandemic to ballooning inflation and interest rates, difficult economic conditions have forced many small c-store operators to sell to competitors that are seeking more scale. Large c-store companies have pricing power and economies of scale that make it easier to weather turbulent economic times, while their juggernaut marketing programs boost brand awareness even outside their main areas of operation. These brands are moving into more and more communities, and their strategic initiatives — like expanding foodservice programs or testing retail media networks — dominate the industry conversation. All of which can leave small-scale operators wondering how they can stay competitive. Part of the challenge, said Mike Lawshe, founder of c-store design and consulting firm Paragon Solutions, is being able to look beyond the big chains' playbooks to define success and set strategy. 'The thing that drives me a little crazy is when we have customers come in and say, 'I want to build a [QuikTrip], a Buc-ee's,' said Mike Lawshe. 'Well, you can't. You're in a different game.' Even if a retailer doesn't have the scale of a large regional chain, there are a few things they can do to keep their business standing strong even among the industry giants. Solve problems, find niches Relying on smokes and Cokes is no longer going to be enough, experts pointed out. 'The Coca Cola they're buying is the exact same Coca Cola in every single c-store,' said Kevin Farley, chief client officer for c-store consultancy W. Capra. 'You have to change what you offer outside of this traditional c-store offering for them to come into your store.' Many small and mid-size c-store chains are adding proprietary QSRs or building bigger stores that offer prepared foods in a broader effort to compete with restaurants. Before then, there have been significant changes like the reduction of service centers or the move toward food-focused stores that aim to compete with QSRs. These changes have left a vacuum in the industry, said Lawshe, creating space for 'someone with a little creativity, someone wanting to change the industry' to step in and cater to these needs. Gas N Wash added a Mickey's Greek-style restaurant to one of its sites. Permission granted by Gas N Wash Small operators could test the waters with new, efficient technology, like Family Express has done with its recently launched mobile app and AI-fueled management software. Or maybe small retailers want to address the lack of third spaces with a welcoming new design, like The Rusty Lantern. They could even try opening in nontraditional locations like sports and music arenas, a tactic GoMart and Wally's have tested. Even within areas like fresh foodservice, which is growing more commonplace in convenience retail, there are ways to iterate and stand out. This could mean partnering with local restaurants, the way Gas N Wash has, or developing a proprietary program like Gastro High Octane Eats at Schmitz Sunoco. 'Who's going to challenge the norm?' Lawshe said. 'Who's going to bring technology? Who's going to have the best solution?' Building the brand Small retailers also need to improve their brand strategy to connect with customers. There are many ways for retailers to tell their story. They can promote their history or their mission and share their values with customers — something that's especially important for younger shoppers. 'This generation is very brand aware and very brand loyal,' said Austin Burns, president and CEO of Paragon Solutions. 'And there's a really good opportunity out there for these retailers to grab onto.' This can look like Buc-ee's, where the company mascot is plastered everywhere and its fans make trips just to visit its stores. Or it can look like Rutter's, which often promotes its 270-year history in its home state of Pennsylvania and ties its roots as a dairy into the marketing of products like milk and egg nog. However, if a chain is hoping to get acquired, building a strong identity could work against it. Art Sebastian pointed to TXB as an example. While the chain is in a good position — well known and well loved — if it did want to sell, it might have a difficult time. 'The way they've built a brand, it would be hard for a big player to acquire them and just weave them into their system,' said Sebastian, CEO of c-store advisory firm NextChapter. 'Casey's just can't take that chain and slap pizza in there, right?' Experts emphasized retailers need to figure out what their value is to the shopper and how to connect. Differentiating their offering and experience from the big players to the point where people are talking about it among friends and on social media has become a valuable commodity. 'You have a real opportunity now,' said Burns. 'Your brand is more valuable than the real estate.' TXB is an example of a regional player that's build a strong brand. Permission granted by TXB Know when it's time to cut losses C-stores should look for ways to update their stores in order to keep them competitive — but they should also know when the extra investment just isn't worth it, experts say. If a store is underperforming and the owner can't or won't invest back into it, ownership should ask themselves if the site is still worth running. There's a lot of data out there that can help retailers make the decision, Burns noted. With larger companies expanding their reach and some smaller companies innovating to change the game, it could just hasten the decline of aging locations that don't get updated. 'We see it all the time, whether it's a Buc-ee's or [QuikTrip] or RaceTrac, going up against legacy stores across the street,' said Lawshe. 'And those legacy stores, they just go in the tank.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida is hotter than your vacation
Tourists are flooding into Florida this Memorial Day weekend, headed to beaches, theme parks, and local hotspots. Meanwhile, locals are staying inside to avoid a record-breaking heatwave that feels more like July 2045 than May 2025. The holiday is considered the start of the summer. AAA's latest report said over 45 million people will travel this weekend, most of them will brave a road trip, hitting up each Buc-ee's along their way. But it's really hot. In 2001, the NRDC warned Florida about climate-driven catastrophe. Nearly 25 years later, those warnings read less like forecasts and more like headlines. This including a rise of sea levels and temperatures; damage to the Everglades, coral reefs, beaches, and coastal ecosystems; lower yields to Florida agriculture like sugarcane, tomatoes, and citrus fruits; and an increased risk of wildfires to forests, natural areas, and homes. There is also a higher risk for heat stroke, especially among senior citizens. Global warming presents Florida with serious challenges—challenges that threaten human health, economic prosperity, and treasured natural areas. The research indicates that over several decades, changes in sea level, average temperature, and weather will damage coastal property and beaches, water resources, human health, agriculture, and natural areas. "Feeling the heat in Florida" — NRDC, October 2001 NOAA's recent report included a forecast of increased activity for the 2025 Hurricane season, starting June 1. They predict 13-19 named storms, and 3-4 major hurricanes, yet some parts of Florida are still coping with recovery from last year's back-to-back hurricanes. There are steps the state can take to mitigate this harm. The NRDC suggested that Floridians actively reduce pollution, using more efficient and clean energy, and adapt. Yet two decades later, environmental measures in the Florida legislature aren't moving in that direction, with no help from the current federal government. But this doesn't stop the tourists, making tourism Florida's main industry. Some advice for vacationers from a Floridian: Make sure you pack lots of sunscreen, a sun hat, and a portable rechargeable fan. Seriously. Sunscreen. Wear lots of it during the day and try to stay out of direct sunlight. Even at the beach or pool. Northern winter skin cannot handle the UV levels in Florida. You will burn. It's not the souvenir you want to take home from your trip. Take a moment to rest somewhere cool at the hottest time of day (about 3:00 p.m.). It will probably rain at some point during the day, usually in the afternoon. Hurricanes are not just any other storm. If one is headed towards you, take it seriously. Florida is prone to flooding and storm debris, both of which kills more people than the actual storm. Advice from Tampa's celebrity meteorologist Denis Phillips: 'Don't freak out.' Be flexible and keep a positive attitude. Don't let the weather be the reason you have for unpleasant vacation memories. For tourists, Florida is still a playground. For locals, it's becoming a cautionary tale.
