By now, you’ve likely come across the oversized convenience store wonderland that is Texas-born Buc-ee’s. Part gas station, part deli, and part TJ Maxx, this larger-than-life travel stop is known for doing a few things really well, and for their extensive selection of everything you could dream of. (Case-in-point, some of my favorite beaded holiday earrings are from Buc-ee’s.)
We often wax poetic about Buc-ee’s and their tender brisket, salty-sweet Beaver Nuggets, Dr Pepper Icees, and spotless restrooms. But soon, the Lone Star State will be dethroned from having the largest Buc-ee’s location.
As reported by Sebastian Daily, in 2027, Buc-ee’s plans to open the world’s largest convenience store (you read that right!) in Fort Pierce, Florida, at a whopping 76,245 square feet. For size comparison, this is about the area of 1.3 football fields.
The store in Fort Pierce, just up the Atlantic coast from Palm Beach, will be constructed at I-95 and Indrio Road, serving drivers traveling on one of Florida’s busiest routes. The current Texas record holder is the store in Luling, which opened at 75,593 square feet. (Luling took the title from a Buc-ee’s in Sevierville, Tennessee.) Florida’s new location, if built as planned, will have 120 gas pumps, 18 electric vehicle charging stations, and over 700 parking spaces for folks to get out and enjoy 76,000 feet of Buc-ee’s retail magic.
There are currently two Buc-ee’s open in Florida, in Daytona Beach and in Saint Augustine, with another planned for Ocala in the next few years. As shared by Sebastian Daily, the plans for the newest Fort Pierce location are still in the final stages of approval and must be confirmed by utility providers. Once approved, construction on the new location could take nearly two years, with a goal of a late 2027 or early 2028 ribbon-cutting.
Still, the prospect of the economic boost to the region has Southerners excited for the possibility of the bronze beaver’s arrival in town. If similar to other recent Buc-ee’s openings, the new store could provide upwards of 175 jobs to local residents.
If you’d like to check a few world records on your next trip to Texas, stop into the Luling location (while it still holds the title) for Brisket Mac & Cheese and swing by the Katy, Texas, location to see the world’s longest car wash, featuring a 255-foot conveyor belt. Don’t forget your Beaver Nuggets!
Read the original article on Southern Living