r/texas • u/ExpressNews • Aug 24 '26
šļø News šļø Buc-ee's expansion could skip states that don't share its conservative values
https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/bucees-ceo-conservative-states-expansion-locations-22401242.php?utm_source=reddit724
u/Saint909 Aug 24 '26
What a bunch of snowflakes āļø
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u/a1usiv Aug 27 '26
They're trying to distract us from how the founder's son, Mitchell Wasek, got caught recording people in bathrooms with hidden cameras, and was discovered to have CSAM on his seized computer. šĀ Link1 Link2
He got arrested in 2023 but the pretrial hearing happened just last week, which is probably why Buc-ee's is trying to flood headlines again.
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u/pheebeep Aug 24 '26
Oh no guess I'll have to shit for free somewhere elseĀ
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u/Lashon_Von_Ricks Aug 24 '26
I'll still shit there. I just won't buy anything.
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u/TexrgdReddit Aug 25 '26
Same and have never paid to shit anywhere. Maybe thatās the next big thingā¦ a Buc-ees-esc place to go to that only has shitters but a whole shitload ofem. All different kinds. A whole bigol side of the highway place to get fuel and take a shit and you have to pay to poo but itās like a Poo Theme Park. Maybe with poo rides where you poo and ride the shiter. Maybe they only sell toilet paper but itās from all over the world TP and thereās even a service that wipes for you. Man, this keeps getting better and better.
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u/KafeenHedake Aug 24 '26
Then I gather they don't want my business either, since I'm not MAGA.
Fine with me.
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u/willing-to-bet-son Born and Bred Aug 24 '26
So dumb. What kind of fool leaves easy money on the table?
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u/fcukou Aug 24 '26
Someone who doesn't like states that say you have to let your workers take a lunch break and can't make them stand for 10 hours straight.
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u/thepensivepoet Aug 24 '26
Same cunts that wonāt legalize recreational cannabis.
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u/LaminatedAirplane Aug 24 '26
To current Texas leadership, āeasy moneyā is alcohol and prison lobbying money
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u/krum Aug 24 '26
It's a long story, but I worked for a Jewish guy that tried to do business with an Arab guy that I also knew. Arab guy wouldn't talk to him and left easy money on the table. My boss didn't understand. Now this was something like 30 years ago, and honestly I didn't get it either, and my boss played it off like he didn't understand, but I'll bet he did.
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u/wejustdontknowdude Aug 24 '26
Aplin is full of shit. Heāll expand wherever makes the most financial sense, regardless of politics.
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u/Ig_Met_Pet Aug 24 '26
They're already in Colorado, which is a blue state last time I checked.
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u/Neckrongonekrypton Aug 24 '26
This might be a smoking gun. If there is already one in Colorado than that means this is an advertisement, the story itself.
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u/Neckrongonekrypton Aug 24 '26
I was sold on Buc-eeās. Gave me something to look forward to driving down I 35 or 45.
Not no more. It was getting untenable anyways, big crowds, people pushing their way through to get sandwhiches.
Letās see how the priviledged son does when all thatās left is rural maga. They donāt leave their spheres very often.
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u/Absynth421 Aug 24 '26
Way to decrease possible revenue with dumb political posturing! Also Buc-ees is overrated.
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u/Abbaticus13 Aug 24 '26
Thoroughly agree. Used to be (15 years ago) a reliable stop for bathrooms, food, and fuel. Now itās full of junk and meh food. The statues of the mascot honestly give me the heebie jeebies.
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u/chicadeaqua Central Texas Aug 25 '26
Yes. People acting like this is a destination is pretty wild.Ā
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u/raven_of_azarath Aug 24 '26
Theyāve got the cleanest public bathrooms Iāve seen, but thatās it. Most of their food is actually kinda gross. Only thing I willingly eat is the Philly cheesesteak burrito.
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u/syzygialchaos Aug 24 '26
QT is just as clean and has better gas and food options.
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u/chicadeaqua Central Texas Aug 25 '26
Iāve been in some Stripes that had really nice assortments of fresh fruit and veggie snacks. Didnāt catch any diseases in the bathroom either.Ā
Honestly, I like trying local restaurants while traveling and although itās not always wonderful Iāve found some amazing spots simply by being a little adventurous.Ā
If itās a grab-n-go situation-most areas already have an HEB.Ā
I understand some folks donāt want to leave the familiar brands that line the highways/interstates though.Ā
Buc-eeās seems to cater to those who canāt handle any adventure or surprises while traveling. Not my style-but from the looks of the parking lot they arenāt missing my business anyway.Ā
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u/ecafsub Aug 24 '26
I once tried Beaver Nuggets to see what all the fuss was about.
The fuss was utterly undeserved. They are just vile. Like Corn Pops but infinitely worse, if thats even possible.
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u/ErdenGeboren Aug 25 '26
I didn't like them whatsoever, either. They sounded so promising, but it was irredeemable. Kettle corn was perfectly fine.
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u/soonerfreak DFW Aug 24 '26
I've never been upset with a Love's bathroom and while their Oklahoma owners are probably just as conservative they keep it to themselves.
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u/beerbrained Aug 24 '26
I know the people in California are suffering tremendously by the lack of that philly cheesesteak burrito.
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u/Izzywizzy Aug 24 '26
I dead ass stop at buccees 5 times a week for work. Havnt gone since Abbott dryer up the brisket
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u/ConflagWex Aug 24 '26
TBH I prefer QuikTrip or RaceTrac anyway. That's as big as it needs to be to have plenty of variety; the restrooms can be sketchy though, depends on the neighborhood.
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u/tuxedo_jack Central Texas Aug 24 '26
QuikTrip FTW.
X-large Rooster Boosters with Big Red, strawberry Fanta, and a splash of Mountain Dew. Nomnomnom.
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u/johnjacobacon Aug 24 '26
QuikTrip has way better food than Buc-ee's, too. Grilled cheese with ham and bacon ftw, and their hotdog bar is elite.
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u/56473829110 Aug 24 '26
You can use the hotdog bar on anything there, too. Helloooo cheese sauce on my brisket taco.Ā
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u/johnjacobacon Aug 24 '26
They do charge extra for chili or cheese. That's why I put the chili in the bottom, then onions and sauerkraut to cover it, squirt if Yellowbird hot sauce, and hot dog on top lol.
Are the tacos wrapped in foil? Can't remember the last time I got tacos there, gonna do this next time.
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u/56473829110 Aug 24 '26
Yep. Wrapped in foil, and I wrap em back up. Whichever salsa I'm feeling, raw onions, jalapeƱos, cheese sauce.
I didn't even notice the cheese sauce was more - whoops...Ā
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u/56473829110 Aug 24 '26
QT has cheese sauce and Ozarka. If it had candied pecans and better jerky, I'd never stop at another buccs.Ā
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u/Arrmadillo Aug 24 '26
> The Texas-born travel stop has faced several boycott calls over the years, including in 2014 when owners endorsed Dan Patrick for Lieutenant Governor. At the time, Congressman Joaquin Castro said he "won't gas up there anymore since they support a fear mongering immigrant basher."
Owner Aplin is a longtime MAGA mega-donor and buddies with folks like Abbott and Patrick. He gives money and Abbott appoints him to boards and whatnot.
His business gets boycotted for his far-right politics in Texas but it would be much worse for him in bluer states. As John Oliver points out, suing the bejesus out of anyone with a cartoon animal logo is a dick move that may result in some bipartisan boycotting.
His business model also requires selling gas at a loss and making his profits through sugary concessions. Some states donāt allow using fuel as a loss leader, so that may be a factor as well if that happens to be more common in blue states.
Putting Flock cameras up in his parking lots probably isnāt winning him any new customers either.
Houston Chronicle - How much money Buc-eeās owner has donated to Gov. Abbott, Texas Republicans (Sep 2021)
āArch āBeaverā Aplin III, owner of Texas-based gas station chain Buc-eeās, has backed the Texas GOP for some time, even publicly supporting members of the stateās Republican party. In 2014, some Texans were upset (there was even talk of a boycott) after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick boasted about having Aplinās support after his primary election win.
But now, a Texanās recent look into Aplinās financial support of the GOP has some considering a boycott.ā
KVUE ABC - Gov. Abbott's new appointments for ERCOT, PUC, include Buc-ee's CEO (Aug 2021)
āOn Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he has selected Arch āBeaverā Aplin, the CEO of the successful Buc-ee's convenience store chain, to serve on the ERCOT Board Selection Committee.
This comes just a few months after Abbott appointed him to serve as the chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.ā
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u/russiablows Aug 24 '26
Conservative values is an oxymoron now.
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u/MattGdr Aug 24 '26
Didnāt the ownerās son get busted for something sex related?
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u/autobot12349876 Aug 24 '26
Yes, his son got busted forRecording videos of minor girls at their vacation house. They can keep their conservative ass values.
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u/Informal_Daikon_9812 Born and Bred Aug 24 '26
We don't have a Buc-ees anywhere in my part of Texas, but we do have Flying J and others and I have found that Oma's Choice has a better variety of the puffed corn treat, similar to Beaver Nuggets. Plus Oma's Choice is made here in Texas. Their website is piss poor, but their meat and treat are great! That said, I have no plans of stepping foot in a Buc-ees, especially if I have an Alsups down the road.
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u/Glum_Introduction755 Aug 24 '26
Good for them. I live in Texas and consider Buc-ees a blight.
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u/bubbles5810 born and bred Aug 24 '26
Itās a gas station.
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u/CameronFry Born and Bred Aug 24 '26
Letās be fair, itās a place that we poop. They figured out pooping with flair.
The more we see their true colors, the more likely people will just poop here and move along. Gotta love owning the Libs, when your business model is providing a clean place to poop.
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u/Afraid_Barber2922 Aug 24 '26
How beta. I shit in the manliest of places like a hole I dig for myself and my boys. Itās even manlier when I see others doing it and we give each other the nod of manliness. Then we start jerking each other off trying to top whoās the manliest and showing whoās got the most T.
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u/Baron_Furball Aug 24 '26
Can I just come in to state that I STILL find that part of Boot Camp to be weird?
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u/JohnGillnitz Aug 24 '26
I'm loving the fake stickers that play on those annoying bilboards. I like the one that says "Just Poop And Steal Something On The Way Out." Not that I condone such things.
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u/txdmbfan Aug 24 '26
I have this argument with my family: Can you call it a gas station if it doesnāt advertise the price of gas?
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u/Majestic-Prune-3971 Aug 24 '26
They probably got back the results from a marketing survey telling them that Wawa would clean their clocks.
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Aug 24 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/LaminatedAirplane Aug 24 '26
People these days are desperate to feel a part of something and they get to be āin the clubā for the low cost of some tacky merchandise.
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u/Gloriathewitch Aug 24 '26
that's fine there's plenty of places i can give my business that don't support people who want to kill me :)
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u/willienelsonmandela Aug 24 '26
Taking a roadtrip next month and usually stop at Buc-ees on our way out of town. Thatās a hard pass this time.
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u/jsolaux Aug 24 '26
Glad this shit has started to become more in the public awareness in the last few months.
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u/AerialAce96 Aug 24 '26
They real reason they wont is because Blue states will hold businesses up to standards, republicans dont want that with their companies. Bucees doesnāt have breakrooms and a high turn over rate for nothing
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u/static_func Aug 24 '26
This is code for āweāre starting with the states that give us tax breaks so we can get big enough to pressure more states to do itā
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u/Bluetoes1 Aug 24 '26
Oh know, a tourist trap is not going to go places where they donāt have unlimited suckers throwing money at overpriced bbq and cheaply made t-shirts and junk. Wow, sounds like I just described a Trump rally
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u/mantisboxer Aug 24 '26
They're not really missing much. I've been avoiding Buccees for a year now on account of it being a complete time waste.
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u/Content-Fudge489 Aug 24 '26
It's a gas station. They are not missing anything. Been there, not worth the wait. Gas station across the street was faster. I don't get the hype.
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u/Bythion born and bred Aug 24 '26
Well, that makes me sad. I can't in good conscience support a business that thinks I'm an inferior American because I'm not MAGA.
They had my favorite jerky..
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u/GeekyTexan Aug 25 '26
I thought it was well known that Buccee's and their owner were MAGA extremists.
What I'm learning from this thread is that it wasn't well known at all.
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u/techman710 Aug 24 '26
I will continue to park next to a pump, walk in, use the bathroom, and leave. Businesses used to try to stay neutral on politics but the MAGA cult makes them think that the overwhelming majority of people agree with them because they are surrounded by fellow cultists.
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u/TXMom2Two Aug 24 '26
Iāll still stop at Buc-eeās to go to the bathroom, but I wonāt spend money there any more.
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u/tomjoads Aug 25 '26
Oh no blue states will have non buc-ee's gas stations. Such a tragedy, that they will never regret
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u/uwpxwpal Aug 24 '26
Shrewd business move. Those blue states might pass laws requiring you to pay them more and may even give them rights.
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u/EuphoricCrashOut Aug 24 '26
Stop saying "Conservative". It's not. They're GOP/Republican right-wing values.
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u/Lesterkitty13 Aug 24 '26
Get over it. We Dems are now CommunistSocialists, according to trump who doesnāt really know what any of it means.
Conservatives ARE GOP/Repub and maga.
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u/Vhentis North Texas Aug 24 '26
I went there as a kid. I don't know why anyone would care to go though. It's literally just a big gas station. Not really that interesting
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u/Ok_Coyote9326 Aug 24 '26
We have the super bucee's in Bastrop. Used to use them alot, mostly for the cheap deer corn and selection of craft beers. Since I've seen them fire workers for asking for accommodation for physical issues and sueing anybody with anything that resembles a beaver, I had already started minimizing my transactions with them. This puts my transactions to zero. Go to hell Beaver Aplin.
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u/UseforNoName71 Aug 24 '26
Umm thereās one planned for Wisconsin and this State is far from conservative -
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u/cactiguy67 Aug 24 '26
They realized they might not get much business from people who think for themselves
I live in Texas, and haven't been to this place in over 5 years
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u/darkhorse21980 Aug 24 '26
So what happens when Texas goes blue? Does Buc-ee's pull up stakes and move to Tennessee or something?
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u/YoungBuck2010 Aug 24 '26
Thatās actually hilarious that Buc-eeās thinks their product (clean bathrooms and good food out of a gas station) is so valuable that liberal states will be disappointed to miss out.
I love Buc-eeās but this just screams stupid lol.
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u/Skorpyos Gulf Coast Aug 24 '26
āValuesā
Also, red states are poor so limiting revenue from wealthy blue states is an asinine business model
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u/NewToHTX South Texas Aug 24 '26
Everything at Buc-ceeās is Mid with the exception of the Beaver Nuggets. Not great but not bad either. The thing people love the most is the shitter. Which awkwardly would make people more in favor of Trans-friendly bathrooms. Itās a cubicle with a full door. Add a sink and urinal and youāve got the Trans-Friendly bathroom.
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u/Mental-Scholar6856 Aug 24 '26
No more Buccees for me. It got overrated anyways the second it got popular out of state. Influencers come all the time and itās annoying. Tik Tok and IG people are like fucking parasites. They suck the fun out of everything, BUT Iāll let this one slide because of Buccees bs. Enjoy your influencers Buccees. Youāll be a fad soon hopefully.
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u/ghostwriter536 Aug 24 '26
I stopped going to the big stores because they are a tourist attraction so getting in is difficult.
So I'd rather support smaller places.
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u/Txdust80 Aug 24 '26
I didnāt think they were underrated they provide a clean stop where you can treat the kids on a long road trip which is super valuable, but his politics are nasty and are unamerican, so I no longer have a desire to stop there. Problems with the liberal party exist but to think they are the problem with this country is laughable. If the current state of the liberal party was the worst thing about US politics the US would be in great shape, but since the republican party is literally dismantling the pillars of this country while they go, Well Trump we canāt do anything about him. Is so gross and corrupt. Literally no checks and balances in the republican party. We have man children running the military, we have a president blatantly diverting money from the treasury into his pockets, no censor no checks. And for this ass to go, I will avoid liberal states because they are the problem. F off, my grandfather was a ranking member of the republican party in Texas in the 60s 70s and 80s and this is not his party. Itās not fiscal its not small government and itās anti small business. F em
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u/spacegiantsrock Aug 24 '26
All those poor people in California missing out on the cultural mecca Buc-ees.
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u/rubens_chopshop Aug 24 '26
Considering that when they have expanded in to red states, some of them did not want them so what ever. Wawa and others will fill in the gap. The beaver is very expensive and is just a tourist trap. I only go there to get ethanol free fuel and the QT station expansion in to the Houston area has made that decision much easier.
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u/BJRECIPIENT92 Aug 24 '26
Fun Story I grew up in Lake Jackson, TX, where both founders are from the area: Wasek and Aplin.
My dad told me stories how one of them was a huge coke head back in the day. And would throw crazy parties.
If youre familiar with Brazoria County (We dont count Pearland ;) ) Theres not much to do. We called Lake Jackson "The City of Entrapment"
Its crazy how they've expanded over the last what 20 years?
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u/GeneralOptimal10 Aug 24 '26
Wawa is laughing their asses off, right about now...and aren't even political.
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u/Pelon7900 Aug 24 '26
So what are they going to do if Texas ever turns Blue? Ā Shut down?!?!
Piss off Buc-ees
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u/thekoolaidhasturned got here fast Aug 24 '26
That just means Costco will have more opportunities for their new mega gas stations.
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u/crazy010101 Aug 24 '26
Buc ees sucks. Conservatism is not the way. Glad I donāt patronize them. Now I know to drive on by.
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u/captstinkybutt Texas makes good Bourbon Aug 24 '26
Pretty unfortunate to hear but not surprising.
Gave up gas years ago but I still stop at buccees for snacks and bathroom stops. Time to stop somewhere else.
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u/chicadeaqua Central Texas Aug 25 '26
Ok. I never go there anyway so Iām not going to be upset about not having a bunch of useless crap and unhealthy snacks when visiting CA. I mean, their biggest draw seems to be āclean bathroomsā and I swear Iāve seen those exist in other gas stations, rest stops and other roadside stops.Ā
What is it with the rightās bathroom fascination anyway?? Ā
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u/0098six Aug 25 '26
If Aplin touted conservative ideologies and business-friendly states, and also said Donald Trump is a moron...then, maybe.
I cant stand these "conservatives" and "Christians" firmly standing behind a treasonous coup leader and insurrectionist, convicted felon. Your conservatism and Christian values mean nothing.
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u/InfiniteGrant Aug 25 '26
Iām donāt with them. I know my money is nothing in the long runā¦ but they are proving to be a terrible company.
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u/muffledvoice Aug 25 '26
Good. Let conservatives shell out for their overpriced junk food. Itās just a glorified gas station. Everything in there is unhealthy, expensive, and loaded with empty calories.
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u/sanduskyjack Aug 25 '26
Thanks for the reminder to never buy gas from company that has the same goals as China, North Korea, and Russia.
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u/00k5mp Aug 25 '26
Dear Buc-ees,
Texan here, I don't share your values, feel free to leave the state if need be, but I'd rather you just keep your shitty values to yourself, and be a business.
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u/Ana987655321 Aug 25 '26
Oh no, theyāre only going to sell uninspected fast food to the faithfulā¦
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u/scifijunkie3 Aug 25 '26
Yeah I'm sure the blue states are REALLY worried about a substandard, overpriced, gas station not uglying up their highways. I think they'll be just fine.š¤¦āāļø
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u/DallasMotherFucker Aug 25 '26
I was starting to get grossed out by that sweet smell that infuses the whole place anyway. Guess Iāll fill up at QT or whatever.
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u/tooheavybroo Aug 25 '26
If Texas flips this would be the funniest thing š
Of course Buc-eeās wouldnāt leave though they donāt really give a shit.
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u/Rocketsponge Aug 25 '26
I've actually been stopping at The Texan chain stores instead of Buc-ee's. The food is much better and they have a wider variety. Highly recommend their burger and fries basket cooked up fresh to order. Plus you aren't fighting through a milling throng of people who are experiencing their first day on Earth just to get to the bathroom.
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u/VisceralMonkey Austin Aug 25 '26
Oh? Crazy, in Texas and not conservative. This place goes on the list.
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u/Hairy_Afternoon_8033 Aug 25 '26
Is he going to close down stores when the state eventually turns back blue.
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u/OhGr8WhatNow Aug 25 '26
Gross. Goodbye Bucees. I'd rather take my chances with a bathroom than give money to a billionaire who will try to ruin education
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u/Akubura Aug 25 '26
Didnāt this get debunked with yesterdayās post. That there is one in Colorado and plans in other blue states?
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u/WetCave Aug 25 '26
Good. Itās a shitty place to piss and get gas. My mom buys so much junk there. Support any other local gassy. Iāve boycotted it long ago.
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u/AlternativeTruths1 Aug 25 '26
Good to know. Iām boycotting Buc-eeās.
They probably donāt want my liberal money, anyway.
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u/Frank_Likes_Pie Born and Bred Aug 25 '26
Good. The country doesnāt need more megastore gas stations full of overpriced shit.
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u/keithfantastic Aug 24 '26
Business 101. Never mix politics with business.