If there were still any doubts that Buc-ee's had become something much bigger than a gas station, Arizona just put them to rest.
Thousands of fans descended on Goodyear on Monday, June 22, for the opening of the state’s first Buc-ee’s, with some enthusiasts camping out in triple-digit heat and one traveler making the journey all the way from Australia just to be there. By the time the doors opened at 6 a.m., customers were chanting “Buc-ee’s” outside the store while employees inside prepared brisket sandwiches and stocked Beaver Nuggets.
According to AZ Family, the frenzy started days before opening. Richard Bassett, who arrived on Saturday afternoon, June 20, armed with a chair and an umbrella, endured temperatures that topped 100 degrees to secure his place in line.
“I sat outside on the curb, on Bullard, with an umbrella in 103-degree weather before the sun went down,” he said.
Bassett added that his Father’s Day wish was simple: camp out for Buc-ee’s and bring home sour watermelon gummies for his wife and plush beavers for his kids.
Even by Buc-ee’s standards, the turnout impressed co-founder and CEO Arch 'Beaver' Aplin III.
“I knew it would be big,” Aplin said. “It even exceeded what I was expecting.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and summed up the chain’s unusual appeal. “People plan road trips around Buc-ee’s locations, and now one of those locations is here in Arizona,” she said.
Apparently, they also plan international travel around them.
The opening marks another milestone in what has been a remarkable run for the Texas-born chain. Just months ago, Buc-ee’s first Ohio location shattered company records by generating more than $1 million in sales on opening day.
Celebrities have joined the party too. Demi Lovato recently documented a Buc-ee’s stop while touring Texas, while Matty Matheson of The Bear famously admitted he had been wrong about the chain after years of mocking it. “I talked sh*t but this place is kinda tight,” the chef wrote after finally making a pilgrimage himself.
Not every headline has been celebratory. Buc-ee’s has spent the past few months fighting trademark lawsuits with smaller chains, dealing with viral customer complaints, and preparing to convert one of its older Texas stores. None of it has slowed the beaver.
And Arizona may not be a one-and-done affair. Aplin hinted that additional locations are already under consideration.
“I-10’s been good to us,” he said. “We have ’em all the way from Florida to Arizona.”
