Latest news with #Buc-ee'sTravelCenter
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7 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
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mississippi Aquarium beaver billboards show similarities with new Buc-ee's opening soon
Buc-ee isn't the only beaver flashing motorists on the interstate these days. A new billboard by the Mississippi Aquarium is putting one of its animals in the spotlight, taking its cue from the billboards advertising the new Buc-ee's Travel Center opening Monday, June 9, in Pass Christian. Buc-ee is the beaver mascot for the Texas-based company. The Aquarium used its own beavers as models for billboards on Coast highways that remind motorists to visit the family-friendly venue. "We heard you like beavers. (And clean bathrooms.)," one billboard reads. It, too, is a nod to Buc-ee's, which prides itself on clean restrooms. Another Aquarium billboard says, "We've got beavers, too." "We have quite a bit of different animals here," Aquarium spokeswoman Nicole Martz said in a phone interview. "We pride ourselves on all that we have to offer. We brainstormed a bit and thought it would be a great way to showcase these guys and also show a bit of Southern hospitality — and make people smile." Your questions answered: How big is the new MS Buc-ee's? When does it open? How many gas pumps, electric chargers? It started off with the Aquarium planning its next advertising campaign, to keep things fresh while attracting new and repeat visitors. From there, it grew into a spotlight on beavers and a nod to the new business, expected to bring thousands of new visitors stopping in Mississippi to check out the travel center. "We were thinking about how to keep things fresh and showcase some of our offerings, so we were looking at what animals might not get as much sunshine as they could," Aquarium spokeswoman Nicole Martz said in a phone interview. "The beavers came to mind because they are one of the first things you see when you come into the aquarium. People kind of gravitate towards them." Elvis, B.B. and King, as they are called, are curious critters, native to Mississippi, like the musicians they are named for, Martz said. "They are so adorable," she said. "They are so charismatic and they have their own personalities. They love to learn new things, and they are so much fun to watch." Here's what happened: Mississippi Aquarium releases 10 Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. Scott Gregory, general manager for Lamar Advertising, said his company works with the Aquarium to get their billboards in strategic locations and make sure the artwork is going to hold up among other things. He said the Aquarium team's creativity is impressive. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback from that, but really, it's thanks to them," Gregory said. "They are really creative with their design and everything that's going on, right on top of Buc-ee's coming in. They knocked it out of the park with that." "There's definitely lots of buzz in the area," Martz said. "We're all about Southern hospitality and community. We wanted to make people smile and get people talking." Gregory said he enjoys how the Aquarium is using billboards to playfully promote their animals and events. We asked the Aquarium if Elvis, B.B. and King would be attending the grand opening at Buc-ee's as special guests to the travel center's mascot. It seems they will be giving it a miss this time around. "Well, they do like to chew things, as beavers do, so I don't know if they chewed up their invitations, but we're definitely cheering everybody on over here," Martz said. 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: Mississippi Aquarium makes play on new Buc-ee's opening with billboards
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's announces groundbreaking for new location in Benton
BENTON, Ark. – Representatives for Texas convenience store chain Buc-ee's have announced they will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for their new Benton location next month. The groundbreaking will happen Feb. 19 at the northwest corner of Interstate 30 and Highway 229. 'Buc-ee's is coming to Arkansas' Benton officially set to get Buc-ee's News of Buc-ee's coming to Saline County was first reported in July of 2023 when a proposed land purchase on a 29-acre track from the city at a cost of $77,586.21 an acre for an anticipated travel center began fueling the speculation. In a video played before kickoff at the 2024 Salt Bowl at War Memorial Stadium, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that a Buc-ee's will be coming to Benton. 'Buc-ee's is coming to Arkansas and Saline County, right in the heart of our state, will be its home,' Sanders said. Signs point to Buc-ee's Travel Center coming to Arkansas Though no information has been given on when it will be open, officials said the Benton location is set to tie for their largest location ever built with a 75,000 square feet store, over 100 pumps and 225 jobs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
