MEET THE BUC-EE’S, OWNER OF THE LARGEST CONVENIENCE STORE AND GAS STATION IN THE WORLD 

Did you know that the Buc-ee's has the largest convenience store in the world at 68,000 sq ft (6,300 m²) that features 120 fueling positions, 1,000 parking spots, 64 ice freezers, 83 toilets, 31 cash registers, 80 fountain dispensers, among others?

Texas’ Buc-ee’s chain of fuel stations and stores, known for its abundant snacks and clean restrooms, has the largest facility of its kind in the world. The chain already has more than 30 travel centres and plans to build more outside Texas.

The Buc-ee’s gas station chain had its origins in 1982 when its founders Don Wasek and Arch Aplin opened their first store. Their first travel centre was opened in 2001, in Luling. Since 2003, the partners have started to build large facilities over 40,000 square feet (approx. 3,600 sq.m.), which are common in the USA today.

Founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin opened his first store as partners in Clute, Texas in 1982 (it is still open). Aplin formed the name Buc-ee's by combining his childhood nickname; the name of his Labrador Retriever, Buck; as well as the appeal of Ipana toothpaste's animated mascot, Bucky the beaver. Aplin was born in Southeast Texas, with his father originating from, and grandparents residing in, Harrisonburg, Louisiana.

Buc-ee's expanded and opened its first travel center in Luling, Texas, in 2001. Buc-ee's are large stores with fuel pumps that range from 80 to 120 fueling positions for gas and diesel (some stores include Ethanol Free and DEF) and a large selection of jerky, pastries, fresh sandwiches, tacos, Dippin' Dots, fudge and other items.

In 2012, Buc-ee's opened its largest travel center in New Braunfels, Texas, on Interstate 35. The New Braunfels location is the largest convenience store in the world at 68,000 square feet (6,300 m2). The store features 120 fueling positions, 1,000 parking spots, 64 ice freezers, 83 toilets, 31 cash registers, four Icee machines, and 80 fountain dispensers. It also offers tubing and water gear for enjoying the nearby Guadalupe River. The New Braunfels, Texas store was named the 2012 "Best Restroom in America" by Cintas.

After significant expansion in the Greater Houston area and Central Texas, the first Buc-ee's in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex opened in Terrell, Texas, on June 22, 2015. The travel center is located three miles west of Tanger Outlets on Interstate 20.

In September 2015, it was announced that at least part of Buc-ee's corporate operations would move to office space at Pearland Town Center. The "partial headquarters" would house legal and human resources departments of the company. The space was to be ready by the early part of 2016. The second Buc-ee's in the Metroplex opened on May 23, 2016. The store is located in far northern Fort Worth, across the street from Texas Motor Speedway. The third DFW location opened in Denton, Texas, on October 29, 2018.

Buc-ee's broke ground on another North Texas location in Melissa, Texas, on February 5, 2018. The store is located off New Davis Road and U.S. Highway 75. The store opened April 29, 2019.

Sources:

https://voice4efland.com/buc-ees/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buc-ee%27s