Buc-ee’s Confirms 15 New Locations – Updates Lafayette Opening

(KMDL-FM) Buc-ee's, the Texas-based travel center juggernaut, has confirmed plans to open 15 new locations, including its largest one yet. The Buc-ee's brass have also given us a glimpse of when Louisiana's locations in Ruston and Lafayette will be opening.

Many Buc-ee's fans in both north Louisiana, along I-20, and here in South Louisiana, along I-10, have been watching construction sites for activity. And we've also been monitoring press releases and other information provided by the company on exactly when we can buy Beaver Nuggets along the bayou.

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The company says the completion of the current expansion should be done by 2031. This, as the travel center brand is gaining worldwide momentum, thanks to social media influencers traveling across the nation as fans of the World Cup.

Could World Cup Popularity Take Buc-ee's Into International Locations?

I could envision Buc-ee's expanding into Canada. I could see the Beaver looking south of the border, too. I can't even imagine a Buc-ee's in a place like London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Berlin because the store's footprint is so large. I guess there would be places outside those major cities, but in Europe, they have pretty strict building and environmental restrictions. I am sure that could be a challenge to work through.

Wouldn't it be ironic if the biggest takeaways from the world's largest single sporting event were Buc-ee's and Ranch Dressing? Yeah, Ranch Dressing is getting a lot of attention from our foreign guests. In fact, the makers of Ranch Dressing are working feverishly to produce TSA-approved travel containers so fans can take America's version of "White Gold" home with them after the World Cup ends.

READ MORE: Buc-ee's Closes Location - It's Not Why You Think

This week, Buc-ee's opened its largest location to date. That is the new store in Goodyear, Arizona. That is just outside of Phoenix, and the facility is reported to cover 74,000 square feet, as far as the retail store goes, and the new store features 120 fueling stations.

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For the remainder of 2026, the company plans to open stores in San Marcos, Texas, on August 12th, Benton, Arkansas, on August 17th, and  Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on November 16th.

The Buc-ee's expansion plans for 2027 include opening stores in Ruston, Louisiana; Kansas City, Kansas; Gallaway, Tennessee; St. Lucie, Florida; Boerne, Texas; and Monroe County, Georgia, near Macon. The company did not give a specific opening date for these locations.

What is the Target Date for the Opening of the Lafayette, Louisiana Buc-ee's?

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In 2028, that's when the Lafayette location of Buc-ee's is expected to open, as well as a location in Mebane, North Carolina. Mebane is between Durham and Greensboro. The following year, 2029, Buc-ee's expansion plans include locations in Ocala, Florida, West Memphis, Arkansas, and Oak Grove, Kentucky. In 2031, the brand plans to open a store in Hardeeville, South Carolina.

Currently, "The Beaver" operates 56 stores in Texas, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Colorado, Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia, and Ohio. The Mississippi location in Harrison County recently celebrated its first anniversary.