A New Florida Buc-ee's Appears To Be One Step Closer As Site Plans Are Reportedly Being Submitted

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If you told someone that you were going to buy meals, snacks, souvenirs, and even special items from a gas station a couple of decades ago, you might have gotten some confused looks.

Back then, gas stations were basically for gas, very basic necessities, and perhaps some coffee, soda, or water.

Things have changed, however. Gas station chains like Wawa have stepped up their food game. And I've written about a Florida gas station that actually has a highly-ranked, beloved Cuban restaurant inside that was named the best road trip restaurant in Florida (Tom's Cuban on The Go.)

In light of the above, some Floridians may understand the hype of a new massive Buc-ee's gas station rumored to be coming to Florida. It's one step closer now as site plans are reportedly being submitted.

About Buc-ee's in Florida: There are currently two Buc-ee's in Florida - one in Daytona Beach and one in St. Augustine. There is also one planned for Ocala that will reportedly be the company's largest at 80,000 square feet.

And there was another that was reported upon and rumored, but no official announcements have been made. However, it appears to be one step closer to becoming a reality.

The Fourth Florida Buc-ee's That Is Reportedly Having Site Plans Submitted: In August of 2023, Click Orlando reported that St. Lucie County officials had a July 2023 pre-application meeting for a “travel center/fueling station." Speculation began that the application was for a Buc-ee's.

That speculation appears to be one step closer to coming true. In late January of 2024, WPBF reported that Commissioner Cathy Townsend, chair of the Board of County Commissioners, told the station that Buc-ee's would submit their site plan later that week.

The St. Lucie County School Board has reportedly approved Buc-ee's to file the plan. If the process goes as planned, the new Buc-ee's would be built by the northeast corner of I-95 and Indrio Road.

What Do Floridians Love About Buc-ee's Anyway?: Buc-ee's are notable for their size, their offerings, and their cleanliness. Many Buc-ee's are as big as a small Walmart, and many reviews of Buc-ee's focus the most on Buc-ee's food. Probably the best-known food item at Buc-ee's are the nuggets, which are sweet corn nuggets, but fudge and barbecue are also popular.

Many people associate with Buc-ee's is its cleanliness. You'll read people talking about clean bathrooms, and it turns out that this is a hallmark of the store.

Floridians at the Daytona Beach location give Buc-ee's 4.3 out of 5 stars. Many applauded the food and the large selection, but some took off stars because of the crowding.

A reviewer named Victor wrote, in part:

"In the world of 'gas stations,' this has to be the biggest and the best! There are literally around 200 gas pumps, but I did not stop to count. I was too busy exploring the massive retail and food options. Homemade brisket and many...versions of homemade beef jerky were my personal favorites. This was the first time I have been on a family vacation and the 'must do' shopping outing for the whole family was to go to a gas station! You have to see it to believe it!"

The author is not affiliated with Buc-ee's, Wawa, or any other gas stations or retailers.