By Shannon Clinton
There are few places these days where children and adults of all ages can walk through a doorway for the first time and have the same reaction to what鈥檚 inside 鈥� open-mouthed, wide-eyed sheer amazement.
Buc-ee鈥檚 is one of those places, and if you know, you know.
If you haven鈥檛 been, and you really should, try to envision it as part theme park (complete with furry mascot Bucky the Beaver and logo merch!), part food court, part mega-sized convenience store, part clothing store, and gift shop, and even that description doesn鈥檛 do it justice.
And notice we only now mention its famous 鈥渨orld鈥檚 cleanest bathrooms鈥� and the sprawling, 120-bay fuel station, lest anyone think it鈥檚 just an oversized gas station. It鈥檚 so much more!
With locations in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and others planned for Tennessee and elsewhere, the Texas-based chain was founded in 1982 and chose to locate its first 福利姬视频 Buc-ee鈥檚 travel center here in Richmond at Exit 83 off I-75. A grand opening was held in April.
Inside the 53,000-square-foot marvel, there鈥檚 clothing, toys, home d茅cor, hot sauces, a drink station, an entire section of jerky products and another of gummy candies, nearly any snack you could imagine, jellies and condiments, freshly prepared brisket and other meaty sandwiches, tacos, burritos and grab-and-go fruit, desserts, salads, and sides.
Buc-ee鈥檚 even has its own branded snacks including trail mixes and 鈥淏eaver Nuggets,鈥� which are crunchy corn puffs covered in a variety of flavorings, including caramel and sweet cinnamon.
With a loyal cult following, travelers go out of their way to follow the cheery Buc-ee鈥檚 beaver mascot on billboards along the interstate until a towering logo sign finally comes into view near its exit. Others, both locals and those from cities and counties across 福利姬视频, make a point to stop by when they鈥檙e in the area or taking an afternoon drive.
Richmond Mayor Robert Blythe, who says it鈥檚 the fudge selection that has him forever in its grip, readily admits to visiting Buc-ee鈥檚 nearly every day and while there, getting to know employees and management.
Now when he walks in the door after even a day or two absence he said employees shout, 鈥淲e missed you!鈥� And he鈥檚 met other die-hard Buc-ee鈥檚 fans who鈥檝e recognized him from news coverage surrounding its debut.
Mayor Blythe said after the past couple of years watching the evolution of conversations, planning, and finally, construction, he鈥檚 thrilled that the travel center is now open, and is continually impressed with the variety of vehicle license plates he sees when cruising the parking lot.
He鈥檇 never been to a Buc-ee鈥檚 before visiting the one here and was in complete awe.
鈥淭he day we did the ribbon-cutting, I said in my remarks just before I presented the owner, 鈥楾he only thing I know that really applies here is the word WOW!!鈥欌�� he said.
In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, Buc-ee鈥檚 is having a ripple effect on other local businesses, as after their Buc-ee鈥檚 experience, some stay in town to have sit-down meals in local restaurants, go shopping or make plans to visit Richmond again soon when they have more time.
Mayor Blythe said he was hoping that would be the case and now hints at other entities eyeing nearby properties wanting to capitalize on the bustling Buc-ee鈥檚 traffic base.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited not only that Buc-ee鈥檚 has come, but also what that means for that Exit 83 and its potential growth now, and what that also will mean for the existing businesses already in our community,鈥� he said.
For now, he鈥檚 just happy to be Richmond鈥檚 unofficial Buc-cee鈥檚 fan club president and invites you to come be wowed, too!
鈥淭here鈥檚 something in the air when you go in there and you become addicted, and you come back and you don鈥檛 know why, but you enjoy it every time you go,鈥� he said, laughing.
