Lee Lawson was sitting at his desk when Stan Beard showed up carrying beef jerky & beaver swag, and said, “We are building a gas station larger than a Walmart that would hire 70-100-plus people and has 120 gas pumps and will not allow a single truck.” 🦫
A look at the Buc-ee's travel station in Loxley, Ala., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The first non-Texas Buc-ee's to open was in Loxley in January 2019. Since then, Buc-ee's has opened travel stations throughout the South and is continuing with an expansion plan into the Midwest and West. .
“It’s almost as big as Mickey Mouse,” said Tucker Dorsey, a former Baldwin County Commissioner. “It’s crazy.” Few in Alabama knew much about the allure of Buc-ee’s in 2016 and 2017, unless they had traveled through Texas. The company, which remained solely a Texas institution for over three decades, was eyeing a prime spot at Interstate 10 and the Baldwin Beach Express for its first non-Texas travel station.
“We spent an hour in one of the stores, had a barbecue sandwich and I had no idea,” said Elliott, still recalling his shock over encountering the bustling travel station for the first time. “I called Cooper and told him, ‘It has 120 gas pumps and no trucks. It’s not a rest stop.’ He said, ‘I never heard of it.’”A look at the Buc-ee's travel station in Loxley, Ala., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The first non-Texas Buc-ee's to open was in Loxley in January 2019.
“It wasn’t a fancy meeting or at a conference table, it was over the hood of a pickup truck, and we were talking about the plans on how to enter and exit an interstate,” said Elliott. “It could be $100 million to $200 million in economic impact collectively in locations they are in,” he said. “Each Buc-ee’s may employ 200, 300 people. That, in itself, is a good employment generator.”A look at the Buc-ee's travel station in Loxley, Ala., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The first non-Texas Buc-ee's to open was in Loxley in January 2019.
Loxley’s population was already accelerating by the time Buc-ee’s arrive. It was just over 1,600 in 2010, and rose a whopping 127% to 3,710 in the 2020 census. By this year, the population was estimated by the U.S. Census at close to 5,000.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alabama House Eyes Transgender College Athlete Restrictions - Alabama NewsTransgender women in Alabama would be prohibited from joining female sports teams in college, under legislation advanced by a house committee. alnews alpolitics wakanews
Read more »
Former Alabama representative convicted on theft chargesFormer Alabama state Rep. Will Dismukes has been convicted on first-degree theft of property charges.
Read more »
ASU unveils ‘She Care Wellness Pods’A first-of-its-kind mental health resource has officially launched at Alabama State University.
Read more »
How Buc-ee's built an empire on clean toilets and beaver nuggets - Texas Wants to KnowIf you've ever traveled through the state of Texas, then you've seen a billboard with a cartoon image of a beaver alongside a phrase like, 'It’s the brisket for me.' Buc-ee's uses billboards along highways to capture the attention of hungry drivers looking for a gas station oasis. In this episode of Texas Wants to Know, host Baylee Friday talks to lecturer Chris Aarons from the University of Texas and Buc-ee's customers to understand what they like about the brand.
Read more »
Alabamians' Healthcare Access Limited Due to Physician Shortage - Alabama NewsMedical facilities across the state are having trouble hiring and retaining physicians, forcing many healthcare facilities to operate with fewer doctors and essentially providing less patient care. alnews alpolitics wakanews
Read more »