Dive Brief:

• Buc-ee’s intends to open a 74,000-square-foot travel center in Rockingham County, Virginia, sometime in 2025, according to an announcement from the Rockingham County Facebook page.
• Buc-ee’s has requested a special use permit for a proposed sign plan for the project, according to the announcement. If approved, the travel center will be located at the exit 240 interchange along Interstate 81, and will feature 120 fueling positions in addition to 24 electric vehicle charging stations.
• The announcement comes three months after Buc-ee’s revealed plans to enter Virginia with a store in New Kent County — about 170 miles southeast of Rockingham County — set to open in 2027.

Dive Insight:

Both Virginia locations appear to be nearly identical in layout, with the New Kent County store also set to be 74,000 square feet and feature 120 gas pumps and 24 EV charging stations. That location is also planned to have 550 parking spaces.

Buc-ee’s Rockingham County store, if approved, will be located about 9 miles outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. It will compete directly with 7-Eleven, which also has a store at the exit 240 interchange along Interstate 81. 

Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven dominates most of the c-store presence in Harrisonburg, while Circle K and Sheetz also have multiple stores in the region.

Buc-ee’s Virginia expansion continues the retailer’s ambitious growth plans. While many retailers opt to grow via mergers and acquisitions, Buc-ee’s has detailed plans to build its way to more stores. 

Besides Virginia, Buc-ee’s has plans in place to expand to new markets such as Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Wisconsin. The company is also in the midst of growing its existing network in Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Founded in 1982, Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee’s operates 46 stores across Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.