Buc-ee’s CEO eyes 'conservative' states for new locations

Key Points:

• Buc-ee's opened its 58th location in Benton, Arkansas, as part of its strategic expansion plan focusing on conservative, business-friendly states with strong workforces, according to co-founder and CEO Arch Aplin III.
• The company has recently launched stores in Ohio, Arizona, Virginia, and Colorado, with plans to open new locations in Louisiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and South Carolina through 2031.
• Buc-ee's is known for its large travel centers, clean restrooms, and unique food offerings, making it a cult favorite and a significant Texas export since its founding in 1982.
• The company has faced controversy due to multiple lawsuits over trademark issues, notably suing Beaver's Mini Mart in Ohio for logo similarities despite the small store's lack of gas pumps and distant location from highways.
• The legal actions have drawn criticism from public figures including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and comedian John Oliver, who satirized Buc-ee's trademark enforcement on his show and challenged the company to sue him over parody merchandise.