Steve Huppert
Columnist
hupps440@aol.com
If you have not heard about Buc-ee’s you will soon. The company has just entered the state of Virginia; soon every part of the state will have one. Bigger than a football field, they carry everything you need and a lot more that you don’t need, and probably never will need. But it is a fun way to spend a little money on something that will bring a smile to your face, and everyone who goes to Buc- ee’s has a smile on their face.
The employees at Buc-ee’s are smiling too. It is not only a fun and, at times, exciting place to work, but they get paid between $19 and $29 an hour.
If you have kids, you might want to put them on a leash. A long leash and take away mom’s credit card. She will remind you several times how you are saving so much at the gas pump, as Buc -ee’s is famous for cheap gas.
If you are not going on vacation because you don’t have enough money or time, Buc-ee’s is the answer.
Buc-ee is a beaver named after its’ founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin. His Buc-ee’s corporation is chopping down a lot of trees, making one store after another around the country, with the first Buc-ee’s in Virginia at Harrisonburg. (It is one of the largest Buc-ee’s in the chain).
No matter what you want, Buc-ee’s will satisfy your buying taste, put stores on beach boardwalks to shame, and make everyone happy as they are open 24 hours a day every day.
Buc-ee’s is a convenience store, the biggest you are going to find. The Buc-ee’s corporation started in 1982, in Texas, which you would expect. The franchise has expanded around the county alongside interstate highways. Buc-ee’s has been called the Disney World of convenience stores and it is hard to disagree with the average store being 74,707 square feet.
If you think Sonic or Cracker Barrel are different than their counterparts, they are not in the same ballpark and cannot compare to Buc- ee’s.
The store is not designated for weight watchers or frugal spenders. It does provide a little excitement for your travels. It is like going to the beach with no beach and you don’t need to worry about getting sunburn. You can buy several different kinds of sunscreen and several types of swimsuits. Your Buc- ee’s suit will guarantee you will be the talk of the beach or pool.
My daughter’s two kids (ages five and seven) bought Buc-ee’s swim wear this summer and they were the hit of their pool.
There is a little chance you will gain five pounds just looking at the assortment of food on display. The favorites are Beaver Chips, which are made fresh daily, and Beaver Nuggets.
Don’t worry if you didn’t bring the right clothes for any event, Buc- ee’s has what you need for all occasions. Swimsuits are just a small piece of the wardrobe.
The first, and in many cases, the reason to stop at Buc- ee’s is the price of gas. No other gas station can come close to the price of Buc-ee’s gas. Many vehicles come into Buc-ee’s on empty, which can make a big difference to your wallet. You don’t need to worry about waiting in line, as most Buc-ee’s have over 100 gas pumps and multiple electric charging stations, so you will not need to waste time at the pump before you start exploring Buc-ee’s.
I cannot believe I almost forgot to mention the renowned Buc-ee’s restrooms. The first thing people say when talking about Buc-ee’s is how clean the bathrooms are, so that was the first thing I did when I got to the store. They were right, they were super clean, and a man was cleaning everything when I entered. In 2012, Buc-ee’s was awarded the Cintas trophy for being the best restrooms in the United States.
Every store sells Buc-ee’s dolls. Now John Wayne or for that matter Donald Trump do not need to be worried about being overshadowed, as beavers have never been very high on the good-looking list, but Buc-ee’s does have a lot of appeal.
Several weeks ago, I purchased a cloth Buc-ee’s to give to a friend. I thought she would get a kick out of having her own Buc-ee. Having your own Buc-ee is something special, not many women can say they have one. I thought I would get a smile, maybe even a hug or a kiss.
I think in today’s environment with all the terrible situations going on around the world we need a few things like Buc-ee’s to make our life a little happier and put some fun in our lives, and Buc-ee’s does that.
Well, happy vacation at Buc-ee’s, you could do a lot worse.
