A behemoth Buc-ee’s convenience store opened in Amarillo on December 16, and we had to be in Amarillo for a doctor’s appointment on the 19th, so of course, nothing would do but that we go check it out.
Buc-ee’s, for those of you who might not know, is a convenience store that was founded in Clute, Texas, in 1982 and is headquartered in Lake Jackson, Texas. A total of sixty-three Buc-ee’s exist with the Amarillo location bringing the grand total in Texas to thirty-six stores. Don Wasek and Arch “Beaver” Aplin lll are credited as the founders of the business, but Arch Aplin is now named as the sole owner of Buc-ee’s. Just recently, the Buc-ee’s just completed in Luling, Texas, is now considered the world’s largest travel center covering something over 77,000 square feet.
The story goes that Arch came up with the name Buc-ee’s by combining his nickname Beaver with his dog’s name Buck, and the rest is history.
All Buc-ee’s have a plethora of gas pumps, and Amarillo has 128. Many locations also have electric car charging stations, EV’s I think they are called, but we were told since there don’t seem to be many electric cars in the Amarillo area, they didn’t include those at this location. Not all locations have car washes, but the Buc-ee’s in Katy, Texas, boasts the longest car wash in America at 225 feet.
Eighteen-wheelers, the large semi-tractor-trailer rigs, are not allowed in Buc-ee’s parking lots because “parking lots and driveways aren’t designed to accommodate trucks.” Other travel centers built specifically for those big rigs take care of them.
Another claim to fame for all Buc-ee’s is they have the cleanest restrooms in America. They even won a contest held by the Cintas company making it official.
Surprisingly, I was able to get this shot of the inside of the restroom right after a batch of customers had walked out.
Now, what about the myriad food and merchandise sold in Buc-ee’s ? I liked the way Rachel Barrett, the Food Director for County Living magazine, put it in a review she wrote when she said, “Buc-ee’s is the Disney World of travel centers where you are met by a beaver instead of a mouse.” I won’t even try to name all the things for sale. We bought a onesie for our great-granddaughter, a book, a beaver Christmas tree ornament, two pieces of fudge, two pulled pork sandwiches, and two drinks. No Cokes, by the way, Buc-ee Soda instead. And we didn’t even have time to look at the stuff on one side of the store.
We did ask if there were any tables and chairs where we could sit and enjoy our sandwiches and were told, with a smile, that they couldn’t have tables and chairs because they are a convenience store, not someplace to just buy food like a restaurant. Apparently the rules are different for the two kinds of businesses.
The store is spacious, needless to say, and I would think it would take repeat trips to really shop the whole store.
In fact, the choices are almost overwhelming! But considering you can snack while you shop, well, there you go.
A marker outside listed job positions and salaries. Heck of an employment opportunity, huh?
Amarillo Buc-ee’s is located right on I-40, the modern version of good old Route 66, on the turn off the highway going to the Rick Husband International Airport. Most Buc-ee’s are located on interstate highways or at least a highway that gets lots of traffic. On the other hand, I once passed by a small version in Eagle Lake, Texas, population 3,442, so anything is possible, right?
If you still have some Christmas shopping to do, or just need a new adventure, head east on I-40 clear across Amarillo, and get lost in Buc-ee’s.
And be sure to use the restroom, even if you really don’t need to.
What a deal!
Recent Comments