Dive Brief:
- Buc-ee’s has applied with the city of Kansas City, Kansas, to build its first travel center in the state, Jeff Nadalo, general counsel for the popular convenience store chain, confirmed on Friday.
- The site Buc-ee’s is targeting is just outside the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Nadalo said. He could not offer details of how large the location is or when Buc-ee’s expects to learn if its application has been approved.
- This continues Buc-ee’s aggressive U.S. expansion as the retailer has also outlined plans for its first travel centers in Virginia, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Arkansas, North Carolina and Ohio.
Dive Insight:
Nadalo could not confirm exactly when Buc-ee’s applied for its first site in Kansas, but said the company has a long road ahead to reach the final approval. He also said Buc-ee’s won’t officially confirm any location it’s developing until it “locks down” every approval.
Nadalo shared that this is the only site in Kansas that Buc-ee’s has currently applied for as the company looks to open its first location in the state.
According to a report from KSHB 41 News in Kansas City, the land at the location Buc-ee’s is eyeing is owned by the Kansas Speedway Corporation and is across the street from the Speedway’s corporate headquarters.
KSHB also reported that Buc-ee’s application will need approval at multiple steps, including a staff review from the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, a review from the Unified Government’s planning commission and a final one from its board of commissioners.
A spokesperson from the Unified Government of Kansas City told the news outlet that although Buc-ee’s application has not been added to any planning commission agenda, its review could come as early as next month.
Representatives from the Unified Government of Kansas City did not respond by press time when reached to comment on Buc-ee’s application to move into Kansas.
Founded in 1982, Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee’s operates 49 stores across Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina. Its stores have gained notoriety for their large, clean bathrooms, wide array of branded merchandise and proprietary food, including made-to-order sandwiches and fudge.
