Buc-ee's CEO expands into more blue states
The gist
Buc-ee's CEO Arch Aplin III said he'd rather build in conservative, business-friendly states than places that don't appreciate the chain.
The Texas-based travel-center chain is still adding stores, including in Colorado and Wisconsin.
How it unfolded
- Aug 17, 2026Aplin, joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton, spoke at the grand opening of Buc-ee's first Arkansas location in Benton, saying he prefers opening in "conservative, business-friendly states."
- Aug 21, 2026Reports said Buc-ee's 58th location had opened in Benton, Arkansas, with first locations anticipated in Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin by the end of 2027.
- Sep 9, 2026Reports said the CEO signaled an expansion shift away from blue states that "don't appreciate" the chain.
Key terms
- travel centers
- A commercial roadside facility offering fuel, parking, food, and other services to motorists and truck drivers.
- blue states
- To vote for the Republican Party, whose color in U.S. election coverage is red.
- midterm results
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
Source: Wikipedia