Buc-ee’s Ltd. on Monday opened its newest travel center, located in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, the smallest town to host a Buc-ee’s store. It is the second Buc-ee’s in the Bluegrass State. The Richmond location opened in April 2022.
At 4001 Smiths Grove-Scottsville Road, the Smiths Grove Buc-ee’s occupies 53,000 square feet and offers 120 fueling positions.
Buc-ee's sells Texas barbeque, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries, among other signature snack, meal and drink options. The stores also are known for their large, clean restrooms.
Smiths Grove Mayor David Stiffey emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony. Along with Buc-ee’s CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin, leaders attending the ceremony included Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky); State Senator Max Wise (R); State Rep. Rocky Adkins (D), who is also senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear; State Rep. Michael Meredith (R); Warren County Judge-Executive Doug Gorman; and former Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon.
With the opening of the Smiths Grove facility, Buc-ee’s will operate 50 stores across Texas and the South.
“We are so excited to celebrate the grand opening of our latest travel center on this beautiful stretch of I-65 between Nashville and Louisville,” said Beard. “Smiths Grove may be small, but the community has welcomed us with as much love and enthusiasm as our largest cities, so we’re excited to be here and watch this partnership grow.”
Off of Interstate 65, Smiths Grove, in Warren County, Kentucky, has a population of approximately 750 people, according to the 2020 Census. It is included in the Bowling Green, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Buc-ee’s in Smiths Grove will bring at least 200 jobs to the area, the company said.
- Buc-ee’s is No. 118 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
Since beginning its multi-state expansion in 2019, Buc-ee’s has opened travel centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Colorado. Buc-ee’s broke ground on the first Virginia and Mississippi locations earlier this year.
Founded in 1982, Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee’s now has 35 stores across Texas, including the world’s largest convenience store, as well as 15 locations in other states.
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