Dive Brief:
- Buc-ee’s is set to break ground on its Lafayette, Louisiana, location on Nov. 9, the company announced last week.
- The 74,000-square-foot store is one of two in the works in the Pelican State. A location in Ruston is expected to open in 2027 while the Lafayette location is slated to open its doors in 2028.
- The sites are moving forward as Buc-ee’s continues its nationwide expansion, with sites in North Carolina and Georgia among those currently under development.
Dive Insight:
The Lafayette Buc-ee’s is expected to have around 120 fueling positions, which has become the norm for the c-store operator's new sites. The store is expected to bring 200 jobs to the Lafayette area, many of which pay more than the average convenience store.
Buc-ee’s has been looking for growth outside its home state of Texas since 2019, but the company’s expansion seems to have accelerated over the past few years. It currently has stores open in 14 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee ands Virginia. States with locations that are currently in the works include Idaho, Utah, North Carolina, Ohio and Georgia.
The retailer’s stores are popular for their large size, clean bathrooms and proprietary snacks and foodservice program, including Buc-ee’s barbecue station and homemade fudge.
But lately, Buc-ee’s has drawn attention for the numerous lawsuits it has filed against competitors over their company mascots. Ohio-based Mickey’s recently settled with Buc-ee’s, while litigation against Teddy’s Market and Hanes Road Carryout, parent company of Beaver’s Mini Mart, remains ongoing.
