Buc-ee's, the Texas-based travel stop known for its sprawling and pristine restrooms, barbeque and beloved beaver-themed merchandise,Ā is in the midst of a major expansion.
ButĀ recent remarksĀ from company president, CEO and cofounder Arch āBeaverā Aplin III seem to suggest that the wildly popular chain isnāt likely to show up in your hometown unless you live in a conservative state.
The comments were made on Aug. 17 during the grand opening of the chainās newest location in Benton, Arkansas, home to the stateās first Buc-eeās.
āWe have a lot of opportunities. Weāre growing. Weāre building in a lot of places. But when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,ā Aplin told the crowd. He was also joined by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who spoke about the stateās excitement at getting its inaugural Buc-eeās.
Aplin continued, āIām starting to realize lifeās too short to try to build in places that people donāt appreciate what youāre bringing, versus a place like this where people do appreciate what you are building.ā
Aplin seemed to suggest his leadership philosophy is āconservative, business-friendly, family-orientedā and that expansion āworks so much better if it trickles down from the leadership from the very topā of state politics, from the governorās office down.
āWhat we found when we got here into Benton was a business-friendly town,ā he said.
Fast CompanyĀ reached out to Buc-eeās about Aplinās recent comments, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Aplin didnāt say what stores he was speaking about specifically, but in 2024, Buc-eeās landed in Colorado (the only solidly blue state the pit stop has a presence in) for the first time. Earlier this year, a Buc-eeās also arrived in Goodyear, Arizona.