During the August 17 grand opening of Buc‑ee’s newest travel center in Benton, Arkansas, co‑founder, president and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III told attendees that the company is increasingly looking to locate new stores in conservative, business‑friendly states. Aplin highlighted the importance of a “phenomenal workforce” and local leaders who appreciate the economic boost a Buc‑ee’s location can bring.
Why political climate matters to expansion
“We have a lot of opportunities. We’re growing. We’re building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business‑friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Aplin said. He added that the company is learning to avoid markets where officials are less receptive to the jobs and tax revenue Buc‑ee’s creates.
“I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you’re building,” he explained, pointing to Benton’s supportive city leadership as a model for future sites.
Current footprint and future pipeline
Founded in 1982, Buc‑ee’s has grown from a single Texas gas station into a nationally recognized travel‑center brand. The chain now operates 58 locations, 37 of which remain in Texas, and has expanded into 13 other states. Typical sites cover about 74,000 square feet, feature 120 fueling positions and generate more than 200 jobs each.
Despite the new focus on red‑state markets, Buc‑ee’s expansion remains broad. The company will open a location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on November 16, and has announced six additional openings for 2027. Two more sites are slated for 2028 in Mebane, North Carolina, and Lafayette, Louisiana. Plans also include projects in Ocala, Florida; West Memphis, Arkansas; Oak Grove, Kentucky (2029); and Hardeeville, South Carolina (2031). Recent milestones include first stores in Ohio and Arizona in 2026, following entries into Virginia (2025) and Colorado (2024).
Impact on local economies
Each Buc‑ee’s location brings a sizable workforce and increased tax revenue, a point Aplin emphasized when describing Benton as a “business‑friendly town.” The company’s model—large travel centers with extensive fueling, food service and famously clean restrooms—has become a draw for motorists and a catalyst for surrounding commercial development.
While many existing Buc‑ee’s sites sit in Republican‑leaning areas, the chain also operates in communities with mixed or Democratic‑leaning local dynamics. Aplin’s comments suggest that future decisions will weigh local and state leadership more heavily, potentially steering new stores toward jurisdictions that align with the company’s values of limited regulation and strong workforces.
What this means for Texas and the broader South
For Texas, the home state of Buc‑ee’s, the statement reinforces the state’s reputation as a hub for business growth under a pro‑business administration. The company’s continued focus on conservative markets aligns with broader trends of enterprises seeking environments that respect private‑sector freedom and parental‑rights‑friendly policies.
Local leaders in other states may view the CEO’s remarks as an invitation to cultivate a welcoming climate for large‑scale employers. By highlighting the benefits of supportive governance, Buc‑ee’s signals that communities willing to champion economic development could see new jobs and increased commerce in the years ahead.
As the chain’s pipeline extends through the South and Midwest, the interplay between political climate and corporate expansion will likely remain a key factor in where the next Buc‑ee’s travel center opens.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
