As much as one might hope for a local Buc-ee’s — maybe even as much as a Trader Joe’s — no plans for the Lehigh Valley have been announced, despite recent rumors.
A supposed “letter of intent” circulating on social media, shared by Lehigh Valley with Love on Wednesday, claimed the company was interested in putting a new Buc-ee’s service center at the former Galley Restaurant on Sullivan Trail in Plainfield Township. The purported letter, dated May 4, was addressed to the township’s zoning hearing board and allegedly signed by a company representative.
However, Liz Amato, the zoning officer for Plainfield Township, told The Morning Call they haven’t received such a letter nor any correspondence from Buc-ee’s or its representatives.
In an edit to the original Facebook post, from which commenters debated the letter’s legitimacy but cheered the idea of the popular chain coming to the area, Lehigh Valley with Love said, “This appears to be a hoax, but we hope it’s not. We’ll leave it up anyway.”
It’s unknown where the letter originated. Similar posts announcing plans for new Buc-ee’s locations have been circulated in other communities across the nation as April Fool’s jokes.
Buc-ee’s Media Coordinator Crissy Gonzales declined to comment.
PennLive.com and Fox Business reported that the Texas-based Buc-ee’s is expanding into Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas and North Carolina, but has not yet announced plans for any Pennsylvania locations.
Whether Buc-ee’s would open in the state came up two years ago after a billboard with the chain’s beaver mascot went up in Lancaster County, but a spokesperson said at the time they had no plans for the area.
Buc-ee’s is known for its massive stores, wide array of merchandise and clean restrooms.