Murfreesboro Buc-ee’s making progress, council estimates millions in tax revenue

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Everyone’s favorite beaver is inching its way closer to another area location.

Earlier this week, the company announced plans to break ground in Oak Grove, Kentucky by the end of the year. A Murfreesboro location has been in the works for several years.

Construction for the project is once again underway after city officials reported a delay due to a pipe shortage.

“It’s an experience,” Murfreesboro resident Brandon Miller told News 2. “It’s not just going to a gas station and you get your drinks and snacks and go on. It’s usually a 15 or 30-minute endeavor at least, especially with kids.”

Another Murfreesboro resident, Maya Mulraine, added that the chain typically has some of the best bathroom gas stations she had ever seen.

“I think it’ll be nice for people who are stopping on the road just to have that sort of option,” Mulraine added.

Perhaps you wouldn’t find a bigger fan than Murfreesboro Councilmember Shawn Wright.

“They dress like the beaver for Christmas,” Wright said. “Anytime we’re on the road, if there’s a Buc-ee’s even close, we will drive out of the way to go to a Buc-ee’s.

In Murfreesboro, the project is two-fold. First, construction crews are currently busy realigning the roadway off Joe B. Jackson Parkway to make room.

Once that’s complete, hopefully before the end of this year or the beginning of next year, a Buc-ee’s spokesperson said that building construction could begin. That will take roughly a year and a half.

“Tennessee has a great workforce, people are friendly, and a lot of people are going to places like Nashville and going to the Smoky Mountains to enjoy their travel,” Buc-ee’s General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said.

The beaver is also expected to bring big bucks to the city.

“The Crossville store’s brought in $5 to 5.5 million in revenue and that’s non-petroleum sales, that’s just inside sales,” Wright said. “The Sevierville store’s at $9.5 million and most of those visitors are from 100 miles away from those stores. When you take that into effect, that could create $2.75 million worth of tax revenue for the city of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.”

Nadalo said the store will also bring more than 200 jobs, which are high-paying and come with benefits.

“Managers make about $120,000 a year, 200 plus jobs and those jobs have benefits as well…” Wright added. “I’m excited for this project to get on the road and I’m hoping I don’t gain 500 pounds eating Buc-ee’s brisket everyday.”

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