Buc-ee's to open in Clarksville along with more boutiques, burgers and venues

Kenya Anderson, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
·3 min read

The popular travel center giant Buc-ee's will be opening at Exit 1 in Clarksville, according to Visit Clarksville, the city's tourism bureau.

Tennessee's first Buc-ee's opened in Crossville on June 27. Soon after, a location in Sevierville was announced and a Murfreesboro location was also later approved.

More:Hit the brakes. Buc-ee's travel center may be coming to Murfreesboro

Six months later, Clarksville now hits the bullseye for the next Buc-ee's in Tennessee.

Buc-ee's Travel Center, known for its cleanliness, beef jerky, barbeque and a swath of goods for travelers, first opened its doors in 1982 in Texas. Founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin later partnered with Don Wasek and expanded the business. Since then, Buc-ee's has broken records of having the largest convenience store and gas station and having the self-proclaimed "cleanest restrooms in America".

Customers browse items at the new Buc-ee's travel center in Richmond, KY on Tuesday morning. April 19, 2022
Customers browse items at the new Buc-ee's travel center in Richmond, KY on Tuesday morning. April 19, 2022

More new businesses coming to Clarksville

Buc-ee's isn't the only new and exciting business coming to Clarksville in the new year. Residents can also expect more dining, shopping live music, lodging options and more features at existing attractions.

Visit Clarksville Executive Director Theresa Harrington said the new and enhanced spots will give Clarksville the opportunity to gain a wider audience and visitors.

“We’ve never had that ‘one thing’ to market that set us apart," Harrington said. "We always promoted little slices of several things. Now, that pie is growing bigger and bigger as we continue to develop more and different kinds of things to do and experience, which all brings more people from more places who have more opportunities to spend more money while they’re here."

Projects to look out for:

  • Shelby's Trio will open in February. The 50's burger joint, fine Italian dining will have a rooftop bar with 360-degree views in a single downtown building.

  • Three Daughter's Café inside the boutique of the same name in the booming Sango area is expected to open early in the year.

  • Dunbar Cave State Park celebrates its 50th Anniversary with special activities all summer long

  • A grant-funded 450-gallon Aquarium in the Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park opens in April.

  • F&M Bank Arena opens mid-year. The arena will be home court for Austin Peay State University Men's and Women's Basketball team. It'll also offer concerts, hockey and events for all ages.

  • Doubletree Hotel and mixed-use development will begin construction across from the arena will start construction in late summer.

  • Two parking garages will open downtown by the end of 2023, one beside the Doubletree project and one by the Roxy Regional Theatre.

  • The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum breaks ground in May. The museum will represent and honor the legacy of service and sacrifice of every American who served in the divisions of Fort Campbell will be on 33 landscaped acres, finishing in 2025.

  • Greenway Trail System Bride over the Red River, connecting the Greenway to the Cumberland River, opens the end of 2023.

Visitors in Montgomery County during 2021 totaled $340.5 million, which was just shy of the community's record-breaking pre-Covid revenue in 2019- back to 97% Visit Clarksville said.

Staff at Clarksville's Hilton Garden Inn are looking forward to increased development in the city.

“We expect more events throughout the region because of new venues that will be available including the downtown arena and the planned athletic complex by Exit 8,” says Director of Sales Roy Feuring. “More events not only impact the region, but they will enhance opportunities for already established small and large local businesses and vendors like hotels and food trucks.”

Kyle Luther, marketing president at Traditions First Bank and Visit Clarksville board of directors chairman, said he is excited about the new arena and how it will impact the growth and revitalization of downtown Clarksville.

"We’ve seen such positive growth and development in downtown during the construction phase that we’re really eager to see the outcomes for the next 2-3 years," Luther said in the press release.

Reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@gannett.com or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Buc-ee's to open in Clarksville along with more boutiques, burgers, venues