BUCKEYE GAS STATION DRIVERS
BUCKEYE GAS STATION UPDATE

'There's going to be a public hearing later on this month at the planning commission, followed by a public hearing, hopefully, the next month, with the Board of Supervisors,' Smolnick said. How do we pay for this? How do we pay for it without burdening the citizens by increasing the tax rate? A project like this that’s a huge contributor to real estate, personal property, meals tax, that’s what we need to provide our citizens for their needs, but not tax them,' he said.Īccording to Jeff Nadalo, a spokesperson for Buc-ee's, the company was considering other sites for expansion, but New Kent was furthest along in the process. 'We’re going through those growing pains right now. Revenue opportunities, Smolnick said, could help fund new building projects in the county. The company came right to the broker, and says, 'Here's the crosshairs right here in New Kent County,' they picked up the phone and said, 'Hey Matt, let's talk,'' Smolnick said. Typically you work through the state or maybe a site-selection consultant. 'We just worked directly with a local broker and the company. Smolnick said the plan has been in the works for about a year. To say we could have the first one here in Virginia is really something special and that's really what New Kent is about,' Smonick said. 'You can go Christmas shopping at this store and I really didn't believe it until I walked into one and sure enough, you can. The county said the business is a catalyst for economic growth, set to bring about 175 new full-time jobs that pay more than $15 an hour. He also said Buc-ee's was considering other sites for expansion in Virginia, but that New Kent was furthest along in the process.

BUCKEYE GAS STATION UPDATE

He added any update on Buc-ee's New Kent plan would be released by the company. Nadalo said it generally took 14 to 20 months for a Buc-ee's to open once the ground is broken. 'The Applicant’s request for this Conditional Use Permit is solely limited to the review and approval of a proposed sign plan.' 'A Conditional Use Permit has been submitted to the County’s Planning and Zoning Department,' the county posted on social media. “I’m sure they probably have a winning formula there.KENS Buc-ee’s location in San Antonio, Texas “It’s where people will be looking to get off the road and make a stop,” Hughes said.

The gas station chain is usually situated between metropolitans where there’s more space and less competition. They would have to be probably pretty far north of Tampa Bay.”īuc-ee’s tends to avoid major cities, said Doug Hughes, director of the school of marketing and innovation at University of South Florida and once a Texas resident.

“There aren’t many sites big enough for them. “They want to be near an interstate so I don’t know if they can ever be around Tampa Bay,” Conn said. If Buc-ee’s came to Tampa Bay, Rutledge said the chain might have to adapt and build with a smaller footprint.Ĭonn at CBRE said it’s not in Buc-ee’s nature to build smaller their whole brand revolves around bigger as being better. ' I think a location down south in Sarasota, heading into Fort Myers or Naples is another prospect of location.” “If I were eyeing a 100% location for travel, it’s the intersection of I-4 and I-75,” Rutledge said.

BUCKEYE GAS STATION DRIVERS

If the chain were to move further south, Rutledge said it would be more difficult for Buc-ee’s to get close to metropolitan areas like Orlando and Tampa because of the lack of land, more competition from chains like Wawa and RaceTrac and there’s less drivers traveling long distances.

Struggles with getting closer to Tampa Bay “I don’t think they’re getting local residents to pop into Buc-ee’s on a daily basis.” “The uniqueness of the whole operation attracts people who are cruising down the highways,” Conn said. The store also sells sweatpants, T-shirts and sweaters featuring the Buc-ee’s beaver and touristy gift shop goods. Visitors can grab an array of food - much of which is Buc-ee’s branded - such as jerky, fudge, “beaver nuggets” (which is a corn puff snack), BBQ brisket sandwiches and typical convenience store snacks. “It’s part gas station, part Walmart, part tourist shop,” said David Conn, Tampa executive vice president and retail broker at commercial real estate firm CBRE who’s worked on expanding Wawa gas stations across Florida. The gas station that’s attracted a wide fan base is known for its large selection of products in store, plenty of open gasoline pumps, electric charging stations, clean bathrooms and its beaver mascot. Everything is bigger in Texas, including its gas stations.īuc-ees’s was founded in 1982 and is headquartered at Lake Jackson outside of Houston.

Buckeye gas station