Buc-ee’s breaks ground in Mississippi and will bring hundreds of jobs to massive store

The threat of thunderstorms and traffic snarls on I-10 didn’t take the shine off Tuesday’s groundbreaking for the first Buc-ee’s travel center in Mississippi.

While other dignitaries wore yellow hard hats as they grabbed a shovel to turn some dirt, Buc-ee’s founder Beaver Aplin kept on his cowboy hat.

He opened his first Buc-ee’s travel center on I-10 in Texas 41 years ago in 1982, he told the crowd that took home some Beaver nuggets, key chains and other Buc-ee’s swag from the event.

Now there are almost 50 Buc-ee’s centers, which are known for their long rows of gas pumps, trademark brisket sandwiches, aisles of gifts and souvenirs and ultra-clean restrooms.

This site on Mississippi Coast will be the only one between Baytown, Texas 350 miles west, and Baldwin, Alabama to the east when it opens in the spring of 2025, about 16 months from now.

The $50 million Buc-eee’s will hire hundreds of people, and Alpin said Buc-ee’s is proud to offer employees a “living wage.”

One big store and 200 jobs

Bucees said in a prior press release it will bring at least 200 full-time jobs to South Mississippi,with starting pay beginning well above minimum wage, along with full benefits, a 6% matching 401k and three weeks of paid vacation.

“We don’t just talk about it, we live it every day,” he said.

While most Buc-ee’s are about 53,000 square feet, he said, Mississippi’s first store will be the new prototype that’s about 74,000 square feet. It’s not going to be the biggest, he said, but will be substantially bigger than many of the other locations.

“We’ll have 120 fueling positions here,” he said and hook-ups for electric vehicles, something he didn’t have to consider when he opened his first Bucee’s. It’s a small but growing segment of the refueling, he said.

Bill Lavers, executive director of the Harrison County Development Commission, said Buc-ee’sis a modern version of an old-fashioned general store, where people could get something they wanted and everything they needed.

Aplin said his grandparents owned one of those country stores, in Harrisonburg, Louisiana. He was allowed to help out, he said, and that likely contributed to the design and feel of Buc-ee’s.

South Mississippi opportunity

“I know you know the value of your business to the communities you serve,” said William Cork, chief economic development officer for the Mississippi Development Authority.

Many people may not be aware that the new Buc-ee’s isn’t all that’s going to be coming to the Menge Avenue exit of I-10, he said.

“It’s going to be the beginning,” he said.

“It’s because of your investment here that this is going to transform this entire area,” he told the Buc-ee’s representatives, “including the major new industrial park that’s about ready to be developed here just to the north.”

State Rep. Richard Bennett said the tax increment bond the state legislature approved to help build the infrastructure for Buc-ee’s was the first time such a tax diversion was approved in a county.

“I want to thank Buc-ee’s for coming here. It is going to be transformational for Harrison County,” said Bennett, who “shocked” the crowd by saying he’s never been to a Buc-ee’s store.

Harrison County Supervisor Marlin Ladner said Buc-ee’s is expected to be a boost for neighboring businesses since it will be a tourist attractions that will entice people passing by on I-10 to stop for awhile in Harrison County.

“You’re going to have some growth here, I can tell you that,” he said.