At a recent reunion of my grammar school from 50 years ago, one of my old friends had driven all the way up from Florida to participate in the reunion in New York for my Bronx Grammar School, St. Brendan’s. He handed me a t-shirt with the cartoon photo of a gopher. I had never seen this cartoon character before, and when I asked him who this was, he said Buc-ee. Of course, being from New York, I had no idea who Buc-ee was. Nonetheless, on my recent trip down south, as I was driving along Interstate 95 in North Carolina, I began to see that very familiar photo of the gopher on billboard signs in the same fashion as one must see South of the Border signs. It seemed that every mile had a sign asking me to stop at a place called Buc-ee’s.
Now obviously, as someone who makes a living as a journalist, my interest was piqued entirely, and I had every intention of stopping by this very unfamiliar place that just seemed to be calling my name. I’ve made a lot of wrong decisions in my life, but I would soon discover that this would be a good one.
When I finally pulled into the Buc-ee’s parking lot, my jaw dropped. I counted what looked like over a hundred gas pumps stretching out in long, endless rows, each canopy lit up like a beacon calling travelers off the highway. It wasn’t just a gas station; it felt like I had driven into a fuel city. I later learned that many Buc-ee’s travel centers now boast anywhere from 80 to 120 pumps, with the newest sites topping out at 120.
What struck me immediately was not just the sheer number of pumps but how organized it all was. And then came the shocker: the prices per gallon were noticeably cheaper than anywhere else along the interstate. There was a Pilot gas station just across the street, and the prices were about 50 cents more per gallon. I asked myself who would even bother going over there and pay so much more money per gallon. It didn’t make any sense, but then, of course, it all did as soon as I dug in and started researching who exactly owned this company. Of course, when you have over 100 gas pumps in one spot, you’re probably going to be able to offer a much cheaper gas price per gallon. Compared to the six or ten pumps at a normal convenience store, this was another universe entirely.
After I filled up my car, I drove over to the parking lot, eagerly anticipating what lay inside this supposedly growing, legendary store. There were a lot of people outside, and I just had a feeling that this was going to be a special place. As I walked through the front doors that slid open, I was greeted by cash registers on my left and right and very smartly placed displays of fast food, candy, peanuts, and colorful souvenirs, hitting me smack in the face. As I walked a little further into the store, I heard a voice call out, “Brisket on the board!” That single voice was then echoed by a group of employees all chanting the exact phrase, “Brisket on the board!” At that exact moment, I saw a flood of people rushing toward the counter, grabbing sandwiches wrapped in aluminum foil.
The Sandwiches
I would soon discover that one of the highlights of Buc-ee’s is what they call their beef brisket sandwich. I ran over, took a look, and there was a selection of brisket chopped, sliced, and served in several variations. Buc-ee’s brisket is slow-smoked for hours over hardwood, tender and flavorful, piled high on a fresh bun, and often topped with barbecue sauce. It has become one of the most talked-about items on their menu, drawing travelers who know they can count on Texas-style barbecue at any Buc-ee’s stop. But it wasn’t just brisket here—there were chicken sandwiches, smoked turkey sandwiches, and a whole line of hot sandwiches, all wrapped in foil and sold at very fair prices. There was no way I was going to pass this up. I grabbed one, looked around the store, and realized that I was going to need a shopping cart.
Before I move on to the other items in the store, I want to mention that I stopped at Buc-ee’s three times on my trip. Each time I purchased a hot sandwich. These included the famous beef brisket sandwich on a roll, a smoked turkey sandwich, and of course a breaded chicken cutlet sandwich. You can watch the videos for my facial reactions to this food. All three sandwiches were spectacular, but the brisket sandwich was on a whole other level. If you ever get a chance to visit Buc-ee’s, I highly recommend that you buy one of their beef brisket sandwiches, preferably the chopped. It is so unbelievably fresh, the sauce is sweet with just a little bit of spice, and the buns are sensational. I’m from New York, where we have some of the finest food in the world, and of course we have incredible Jewish delis like Katz’s, Second Avenue Deli, and so many more, but I have never tasted beef brisket this good for only $7.99 in a convenience store. Go figure.
The Candy and More
I have a very addictive personality, and so that’s probably why I made sure to go back to Buc-ee’s two more times after my initial encounter. Just about every item I purchased from the store was mind-blowing. I dreaded writing this review because there’s just so much to take in. The sheer amount of items this store sells is incomprehensible. You can probably go there a dozen times and keep finding new food items. A good majority of the products that they sell are under their own brand name, and they are sensational.
Let’s talk first about the pralines. I am a huge praline fan, probably one of the reasons why is because you just can’t get them up in New York. Every time I go south, especially to Savannah, I always wind up purchasing pralines in multiple candy stores and farm stands. Nonetheless, the pralines that I purchased at Buc-ee’s were the best I’ve ever tasted. They were super soft and incredibly fresh, which makes sense because this place just has non-stop people going in and out all day long, and they can barely keep up with creating the food before it’s all gone. Their fudge was just okay, it wasn’t the greatest, but still pretty good.
But now let’s talk about their chocolates. I brought a couple of different bags of chocolate—some just straight-up chocolate bars, chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate-covered cashews, and chocolate caramels. Their chocolate is to die for. I would not have expected their chocolate to be that good. Buc-ee’s actually makes a wide variety of chocolate products in-house, including seasonal assortments like chocolate bark with peppermint around the holidays, chocolate-covered pretzels, and dipped peanut brittle. Their chocolates are made fresh, often in small batches, and packaged under the Buc-ee’s brand, which has made them surprisingly popular among travelers who want to grab something sweet for the road or as a gift. I try to stay in shape, I walk three and a half miles every day, but I gained five freaking pounds on this trip, and most of it was because of Buc-ee’s.
There are many more food items that I tried that I want to discuss, but I won’t be able to cover them all because I’m not writing a book. However, the one item besides the beef brisket sandwich that stands as the most popular item sold in the store, and I know that because I asked the cashier what was the biggest selling item, was something called Beaver Nuggets. So, of course, I bought a couple of different variations of Beaver Nuggets. The big giant plain bag of Beaver Nuggets isn’t really that appetizing at first glance. It looks just like a big bag of corn puff cereal, nothing fancy at all.
But then I ate a couple, and that’s when the trouble started. These things are basically corn puffs covered in a caramel glaze with just the right mix of sweet and buttery, and once you crunch into them, you’re hooked. It is like kettle corn and caramel corn had a lighter, melt-in-your-mouth cousin, and I couldn’t stop eating them. Buc-ee’s even makes other versions with chocolate or cheese, but the classic bag alone was enough to knock me out. I’m going to say that these Beaver Nuggets played a big role in me gaining five pounds on my trip. Honestly, I’m hesitant to even tell you to buy a bag, because once you start eating them you will probably find yourself ordering them online week after week. I have never tasted anything quite this addictive. I have never been to a store like this.
History Of Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s has grown from a small Texas convenience store into a roadside giant with a reputation unlike any other in the industry. The company was founded in 1982 by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III in Clute, Texas. Drawing inspiration from his own nickname “Beaver,” his pet dog Buck, and a cartoon beaver character, Aplin created the Buc-ee’s name and beaver mascot that would soon become instantly recognizable across Texas. His early stores were modest in size, but Aplin had ambitions to reshape the idea of what a convenience store could be.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Buc-ee’s remained a regional chain in Texas, growing steadily while maintaining a focus on clean restrooms, friendly service, and a carefully selected mix of snacks and essentials. These values would become cornerstones of its identity. The real transformation, however, began in the early 2000s when Buc-ee’s shifted from small gas stations to massive “travel centers.” The first of these was built in Luling, Texas, in 2003, and it set the tone for the chain’s future by offering a sprawling floor plan, dozens of fuel pumps, and a wide variety of food and merchandise.
The concept took off quickly, and in 2012 Buc-ee’s opened a 68,000-square-foot location in New Braunfels, Texas. At the time, it was the largest convenience store in the world. This store gained national attention not only for its size but also for its exceptionally clean restrooms, which even won an award for being the best in America. The New Braunfels store cemented Buc-ee’s reputation as more than just a pit stop — it was a destination in itself.
As the chain expanded across Texas, it became known for its wide-ranging food offerings, including fresh barbecue, sandwiches, baked goods, and its signature snack, Beaver Nuggets, a sweet caramel-flavored corn puff. Buc-ee’s also developed a robust line of branded merchandise, from clothing to home décor, making it part store and part cultural experience. Shoppers came to see Buc-ee’s not only as a place to fill up on gas but as a must-visit attraction on road trips.
By the late 2010s, Buc-ee’s began its first expansion outside of Texas. The company opened locations in Alabama, followed by Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and beyond. Each new store followed the Texas model of massive travel centers designed for cars and families rather than 18-wheelers, with Buc-ee’s explicitly avoiding becoming a traditional truck stop. Today, Buc-ee’s operates more than 50 locations across several states, with additional stores under construction or in planning.
The company has also fiercely protected its brand. Buc-ee’s has taken legal action against businesses it claimed infringed on its beaver logo or store designs, winning several trademark lawsuits over the years. While this aggressive defense of its image has been controversial at times, it has helped ensure Buc-ee’s remains unique and easily recognizable.
Beyond legal disputes, Buc-ee’s has faced occasional criticism over employment practices and non-compete agreements, but the company continues to thrive and expand. Its blend of convenience, hospitality, and sheer scale has made it a beloved institution, with fans often traveling out of their way to stop at a Buc-ee’s. What began as a small convenience store in a Texas town has become a nationally known phenomenon, redefining the roadside experience for countless travelers. And of course, I was one of them.
