Buc-ee's Expands Across US Amid World Cup Popularity Surge

Gas station chain Buc-ee’s, which has won the hearts of World Cup fans who have fanned out across the U.S. for the tournament, will soon open even more locations across the country. The beloved mega-travel center and convenience store, known for its brisket and signature beaver nuggets, has become a hit with foreign visitors. Tourists have gone viral on social media, sharing videos of themselves marveling at aisle after aisle of American goodies. “Guys, I wasn’t expecting this, it’s like its own universe,” a tourist said in a video discussing the store. “We’re already gone in on the food, and the guys behind the counter — they do like a sing-song,” he said of the workers who are known as some of the friendliest of any store. Other clips show tourists modeling camouflaged-patterned Jeep shirts and cowboy hats before marveling over the size of a drink cup, with one man noting, “That is mental” of the ginormous portion size. “I can’t believe this is all in one petrol station,” one man remarks in a video, later telling the camera, “They have the best brisket you can find. It’s very good for a petrol station.” One Swedish fan in Houston, Texas, proudly showed off a cowboy hat from Buc-ee’s. “So go Buc-ee’s. Great place. I love the beef jerky. We love the cowboy style,” he told KHOU. Buc-ee’s, which calls itself the world’s largest convenience store, opened a store in Goodyear, Arizona, last week as part of a major expansion announced last month. The new location has 120 gas pumps across its 74,000-square-foot property. “We could not have picked a better location for our first store in the Grand Canyon State,” San Beard, Buc-ee’s director of real estate development, told Fox. “Perfectly placed for our road-trippers headed out to California or coming in for the destination-rich Phoenix area, Goodyear will be the place to stop.” In the coming months, locations will also open in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. FOX Business reported. Further locations will open in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin in the next two years. Buc-ee’s has not commented on its newfound popularity amongst World Cup tourists. The Independent has reached out to the company for comment. While the chain has gotten a lot of love from foreigners during the World Cup, it has been a longtime favorite amongst many Americans, particularly those in Texas, where the chain originated. The chain is well regarded for its roadside snacks, as well as having clean bathrooms and a friendly beaver mascot. Over the years, Buc-ee’s has gained a cult following across the country. In total, 12 new locations will open by 2028. They include: Additional locations are expected to open in 2029 in Ocala, Florida; West Memphis, Arkansas; Oak Grove, Kentucky; and Hardeeville, South Carolina, according to the report.