Buc-ee's is continuing its rapid expansion across the country, with its 58th location recently opening in Benton, Arkansas, continuing a trend leadership says is part of the popular travel center and convenience store chain's strategic growth plan.
Arch Aplin III, Buc-ee's co-founder, president and CEO, was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton at the grand opening ceremony on Aug. 17, where he touted his company's expansion opportunities and expressed a preference for opening locations in "conservative, business-friendly states."
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media. "And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building."
"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin said. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representatives."
Buc-ee's opened its first locations in Ohio and Arizona this year. In 2025, it opened its first location in Virginia, and a year earlier, it debuted in Colorado. The company anticipates adding inaugural locations in Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin by the end of 2027.
#aplin #conservative
Arch Aplin III, Buc-ee's co-founder, president and CEO, was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton at the grand opening ceremony on Aug. 17, where he touted his company's expansion opportunities and expressed a preference for opening locations in "conservative, business-friendly states."
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media. "And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building."
"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin said. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representatives."
Buc-ee's opened its first locations in Ohio and Arizona this year. In 2025, it opened its first location in Virginia, and a year earlier, it debuted in Colorado. The company anticipates adding inaugural locations in Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin by the end of 2027.
#aplin #conservative
2 days ago
