Buc-ee’s plans for expansion to Virginia in 2027
- Texas-based c-store chain Buc-ee’s plans to open a Virginia store in 2027.
- The store will be located on Interstate 64 in New Kent County, Virginia.
- Buc-ee’s doesn’t allow 18-wheeler trucks and is known for its clean bathrooms.
Buc-ee’s plans to expand to Virginia, opening a new 74,000-square-foot store in New Kent County in 2027.
According to a March 6 post from the New Kent County Virginia Economic Development, the c-store will open about four years from now off of exit 211 on Interstate 64. The store will have 120 gas stations, 557 parking spaces, 24 Tesla charging stations and 10 parking spaces for buses and RVs.
Buc-ee’s filing with the county said the future store would employ over 175 full-time employees, offering benefits and a minimum wage of $16-18 per hour, according to the post. Like at most of its locations, the Virginia store will not allow 18-wheeler trucks on the property.
Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982 and has about 44 locations, mostly in Texas where it’s headquartered, but also in other southern states, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. The convenience store has a reputation for offering clean bathrooms. It also sells a variety of food options that include barbeque, custom sandwich options, fresh salads, fruits, baked goods and sweets. There are also housewares, clothing and “weekend getaway gear” for sale, according to the filing with New Kent County.
As Retail Leader Pro Chief Analyst Elizabeth Lafontaine noted earlier this year, c-store chains have focused on building followings and modernizing their offerings, offering more food options and creating destination experiences.
“Southern convenience and gas chain Buc-ee’s has cultivated a loyal fan base through social media platforms like TikTok, with consumers going out of their way to visit the experiential stores and try specialty items, such as house-smoked barbeque, jerky, fudge and other snacks,” she said. “Convenience stores aren’t traditionally thought of as experiential retailers, but consumers continue to look for physical stores that make life better and offer entertainment value.”
Other convenience chains are also expanding, as Retail Leader recently reported. Oklahoma chain Jiffy Trip just opened its first out-of-state store in Arkansas. Pennsylvania-based Wawa is planning to double its footprint over the next decade and has announced new stores in several U.S. regions. Much of Wawa's expansion plan includes openings in the Southeast — stores in Alabama and the Florida panhandle. In total, the c-store plans to open 40 stores in the region within the next decade. Other states slated to get Wawa stores include Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio and Indiana.