As you are reading this, the doors to Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s have officially opened in Goodyear. For hundreds of shoppers, and likely thousands throughout the day, they can finally breathe a sigh of relief as they hunt for beaver-branded merch, beaver nuggets, beef jerky and brisket sandwiches, earning a trip to those famously clean bathrooms. For one such fan, he’s been waiting so long his legs might be shaking.
A fan named Richard became the first person in line at the Goodyear Buc-ee’s, lining up at 4:45 p.m. MST on Sunday, June 21, almost 14 hours ahead of the 6 a.m. grand opening on Monday, June 22. TikToker @lavender_rosess spoke with Richard at 11 p.m., learning that he’s a Texan who now lives in Phoenix, 19 miles east of Goodyear.
“We’re here for a good time,” Richard said in the TikTok. “I’m gonna buy a lot of things, I have a lot of friends who don’t want to wait in line, so I have a laundry list of things to buy, but definitely the beef jerky. Beef jerky is amazing and the brisket sandwiches to die for. Ten out of 10.”
All the traffic appears to have occurred overnight, as numerous cars camped out along I-10 and Bullard Avenue, awaiting the parking lot’s opening at midnight. Images from the Arizona Department of Transportation showed every single parking space was full ahead of the 6 a.m. opening, with cars taking up all the gas pumps hours before they could even start fueling up.
The Goodyear Police Department has helped control traffic, alerting all Buc-ee’s visitors that they must take the I-10 and Bullard Avenue exit to reach the travel center. When exiting, all drivers must head eastbound on I-10, according to the City of Goodyear.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place later this morning at 8 a.m. EST, or 10 a.m. CT.
Find it: 1001 N. Bullard Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85338