Second Buc-ee’s store coming near Route 66 corridor, this time in Amarillo

A second Buc-ee’s convenience store near the Route 66 corridor soon will be built, this time on the east side of Amarillo, Texas.

Barely three weeks ago, the city council of Springfield, Missouri, approved incentives for the construction of a Buc-ee’s on the city’s northeast side. That one will be open 12 to 15 months after construction begins later this year.

The Amarillo City Council on Tuesday afternoon unanimously approved sales-tax abatements for its future Buc-ee’s at Airport Boulevard and Interstate 40, on the city’s east side. For a frame of reference, that would be about two miles east of the landmark Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Construction is expected to begin no later than February 2023, with an expected 15-month completion timetable. A Buc-ee’s official speaking before at the city council, however, said he anticipated “there will be shovels on the ground” this year.

According to city documents, the incentives will total about $4.5 million over a 20-year period, with the stipulation that Buc-ee’s will hire at least 150 full-time employees (pay at Buc-ee’s typically is $15 to $18 an hour). The development also is projected to create at least $8 million in economic activity in the area. Buc-ee’s also will donate $275,000 to community projects, and it must make an effort to hire local contractors for its construction.

Those documents state the $30 million travel center will be 53,000 square feet, with 120 fuel pumps.

More than half of its visitors are projected to come from more than 50 miles away. However, the Buc-ee’s official said at the meeting he anticipated 75% of travelers would come from 150 miles or more.

Buc-ee’s, a privately owned company marking its 40th anniversary this year, is based in Texas, though no locations had been set up in the Texas Panhandle, where Route 66 traverses, until now.

It has a total of 40 locations in Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, with more being developed in Kentucky, Mississippi, Colorado, Tennessee and North Carolina. The relatively low number of stores belies its enormous popularity, with many fans driving far out of the way for its beef jerky, barbecue sandwiches, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, fudge, souvenirs and clean bathrooms.

More about Buc-ee’s can be read at Eater.com.

Given the rapid number of new sites being announced, it’s likely new Buc-ee’s will be announced in Albuquerque, Oklahoma City and St. Louis in the coming years.

(Hat tip to Nick Gerlich; image of a Buc-ee’s facade by Laura Eulalia Silva via Flickr)