ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — They say everything’s bigger in Texas. Baldwin County residents will soon have an opportunity to see that first hand when Buc-ee’s, a popular Texas-based gas station and convenience store chain, builds a travel center off of County Road 68 at the junction between Interstate 10 and the Baldwin Beach Express.
According to a press release issued Wednesday out of Lake Jackson, Texas, Buc-ee’s is scheduled to break ground on its first location outside of Texas in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2018. That will be followed by new locations in Fort Myers, Florida, and Baldwin County.
“We’re taking our love of Buc-ee’s on the road, sharing the best convenience store experience with America and spreading Buc-ee’s passion for excellence into Florida and Alabama,” said Jeff Nadalo, Buc-ee’s general counsel. “As we expand, we remain committed to bringing our customers clean restrooms, a wide variety of merchandise, and great customer service, as we’ve been doing since 1982.”
Following its first store opening in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Buc-ee’s has steadily gained a loyal customer following and become widely known for:
· A multitude of gas pumps and award-winning, clean restrooms.

· Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets, which are a decadent caramel coated snack.
· Freshly made barbecue, delicious sandwiches, and pastries.
· A wide assortment of Buc-ee's famous jerky, fresh fudge and other homemade staples.
· Unique apparel, gifts, and handmade craft items, including products featuring the chain's popular buck-toothed “Beaver” mascot.
· Gear for enjoying the outdoors.
Once open, the 50,000-square-foot Daytona Beach Travel Center will become the largest gas station/convenience store in the state of Florida. It will offer products tailored to the Florida market, and will feature at least 120 fueling positions.
The Baldwin County location will also reportedly include 50,000 square feet of retail space with 120 fueling positions, providing up to 200 local jobs.
There are also plans to expand County Road 68 to allow access to the store, according to reports.
“I personally have been to Texas and seen how this business operates," said County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey. “I think it would be a great addition to Baldwin County that would pull in visitors, as well as provide some good jobs for Baldwin County citizens. We certainly welcome businesses like this to our county.”
Founded in 1982, Buc-ee's has 32 convenience stores and travel centers in Texas, with plans to expand to Florida and Alabama over the coming year.
The company also operates the largest convenience store in the world, located in New Braunfels, Texas. The New Braunfels Travel Center covers 68,000 square feet and features 120 fueling positions, 83 toilets, 31 cash registers four Icee machines, and 80 fountain dispensers.
Buc-ee’s is based in Lake Jackson, also home to the company’s first convenience store, which is still in operation. For more information, visit buc-ees.com.
Submitted release with additional reporting by Onlooker co-editor John Underwood.