16-05-2025
How many Buc-ee's are in Florida? How many more are opening, and where are they?
The Buc-ee's empire continues to spread beyond its home state of Texas. The cult-favorite chain has more massive gas stations/convenience stores coming to new places like Mississippi, Georgia, and Virginia. Last, they opened one in Johnstown, Colorado, the first location west of the Lone Star State.
Buc-ee's is a wildly popular chain of gargantuan gas stations, each one with typically 100-120 gas pumps, the cleanest bathrooms in America, and a store the size of a small grocery store with a wide variety of well-received store-brand products such as jerky, roasted nuts, fudge, brisket, the signature Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets and much more, along with the usual gas station items.
Most gas stations don't sell entire BBQ grills and housewares, though, or feature a big, cheerful, buck-toothed mascot that grins at you from everywhere. The chain is also known for its excellent per-hour starting pay and benefits.
Buc-ee's moved into Florida long ago and it's still going, with new stores on the way.
There are currently two Buc-ee's in Florida:
St. Augustine, 200 World Commerce Parkway: Opened in February 2021 with 52,600 square feet and 104 fueling stations
Daytona Beach, 2330 Gateway North Drive: Opened in March 2021 with 53,000 square feet and 104 fueling stations. This one added a massive, 235-foot long car wash last year.
Bucc-ee's officials have big plans to expand their footprint in the Sunshine State.
, Marion County: In February, Gov Ron DeSantis was on hand to break ground for a new I-75 store that is scheduled to get a Buc-ee's with 74,000 square feet and 120 fueling stations. An opening date has not been set since it relies on completion of the interchange first.
, St. Lucie County: A planned location at I-95 northwest of Fort Pierce and southwest of Vero Beach would be 76,245 square feet with 120 gas pumps and 18 EV charging stations. The state signed off in April, and if the county approved the final site plan, it could open in 2026.
, Leon County: Buc-ee's submitted a permit application in February with plans for a proposed 75,000 square foot store, with 120 gas pumps and 24 EV charging stations. If it goes through, this would be one of the largest Buc-ee's in the country.
, Charlotte County: There are plans for a Buc-ee's in a trio of villages near a new Harborview development in Southwest Florida. Depending on the zoning, it's planned to be around 74.000 square feet, according to Stan Beard, Buc-ee's national director of real estate and development.
A rumored one in Lee County didn't work out.
None of the Buc-ee's around the country will ever surpass the largest one, a Buc-ee's in Luling, Texas that spreads more than 75,000 square feet. Last year, it replaced the original location built in 2003.
And Buc-ee's wants to keep the Texas-sized stores inside Texas.
"Regarding square footage, the largest store outside of Texas will not exceed 74,000 square feet," a company spokesperson said in an email in 2024 after rumors arose about the new Ocala store potentially breaking the record.
It's a convenience store and a gas station and a tourist attraction. If you're on the road and need pretty much anything, up to and including a smoker grill, Buc-ee's has you covered.
Buc-ee's began in Texas in 1982 and stayed in the Lone Star State for years, but the chain has been making inroads into the Sunshine State and elsewhere. Locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and serve as one-stop shops for travelers and locals.
They're known for cheap(er) gas at each location's insane number of gas pumps; stores bigger than your average Publix; a wide variety of hot food, bakery items and fudge prepared on site; a wider variety of store-brand snacks, grocery staples, short sauce and jerky; and a large section of home decor, kitchen utensils, clothing, barbecue grills, Florida souvenirs, and more.
They're also justifiably famous for their clean bathrooms, which are also enormous. Buc-ee's was rated by as having the cleanest restrooms of any convenience store chain in the nation. And for their starting pay, which is often plainly listed on big display boards outside when they're hiring.
In May 2024, USA TODAY's 10Best chose Buc-ee's as the 10th best for both Best Gas Station Brand and Best Gas Station for Food.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Buc-ee's spreading across US. How many more are coming to Florida?
