Florida, Georgia, North Carolina: Buc-ee's founder details U.S. 'invasion' for Texas Monthly

Buc-ee's recently opened a new location in Alabama, and the company's co-founder talked with Texas Monthly about the next target for the convenience store giant. >>> What it looks like in the only Buc-ee's outside Texas. less Buc-ee's recently opened a new location in Alabama, and the company's co-founder talked with Texas Monthly about the next target for the convenience store giant. >>> What it looks like in the only ... more Photo: Kim Brent / The Enterprise Photo: Kim Brent / The Enterprise Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Florida, Georgia, North Carolina: Buc-ee's founder details U.S. 'invasion' for Texas Monthly 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

Think of Buc-ee's as an older brother moving out of the house.

The Texas-based convenience store giant has endeared itself to Texans with Beaver Nuggets, clean bathrooms and endless gas pumps since it first opened in Lake Jackson in 1982. But after the franchise opened a store in Alabama last month, it took the first step toward growth outside the state.

"World domination" is how Texas Monthly described the Buc-ee's expansion effort in its most recent cover story, which chronicles the beginnings of the company with co-founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Inside the first Buc-ee's outside of Texas

The story describes a map in the corner of Aplin's office with thumbtacks where he sees more stores outside of Texas. And when the reporter said it looked like an invasion, Aplin didn't budge.

"It does kind of look like an invasion, doesn't it?" he told Texas Monthly.

The Alabama store received a warm reception with around 100 customers lined up outside the store before the opening last month. In addition to the traditional items, the Alabama store includes state-specific gear, such as shirts supporting the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers.

The store also offers exclusive "Beach Express" shirts, along with beach gear for those making a relatively short drive from the store to the coast

Meanwhile, in Florida, local publications have been reporting on the long-awaited locations in the state since at least 2017. Buc-ee's stores are slated to open in St. Johns, Daytona Beach and Fort Myers. News reports indicate the stores were eyeing a 2019 opening date, but the Fort Myers location might be delayed until 2020, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.

Buc-ee's also plans to open in Georgia, where Aplin's map showed his most audacious and conceptual expansion plans, according to Texas Monthly.

Six thumbtacks circle Atlanta, as Aplin hopes to catch drivers traveling in all directions out of the city.

"At that point, Aplin hopes, Buc-ee's will become just as much a way of life for Georgians as it is for Texans," the Texas Monthly article said.

LAWSUIT FILED: Buc-ee's in Alabama is being sued for selling gas for too cheap. The details are at HoustonChronicle.com.

The thumbtacks on Aplin's map stretched all the way to North Carolina. Despite the brand's connection to Texas culture, he told Texas Monthly people outside the state are "looking for basically the same thing."

"I theorize that the people traveling in Texas are very similar to the people traveling in Florida or Alabama," he said in the story.

The article raised questions about whether its expansion could mirror that of Whataburger in the 80s, when the fast foot brand opened locations in Las Vegas and Memphis. It was a short-lived effort that ended with the brand turning its eyes back to Texas, according to the magazine.

But Aplin, described as a ruthless competitor, is sticking to his guns with his motto from day one: Clean, Friendly, and In Stock.

Read the full Texas Monthly story here.

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