Buc-ee’s Confirms New Location on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Its First in the State

Buc-ee’s is a popular convenience store in the American South, and it has a bit of a cult following. Up until recently, however, the convenience store has never opened a location in Mississippi. That, however, recently changed. Let’s take a look at what we know about its new location.

Buc-ee’s New Location

According to the Sun Herald, the new location is set to open in Harrison County, on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, in two months.

“We are currently set to open in Harrison County, MS on June 9,” the company’s media department told the Sun Herald.

The $50 million travel station, noted for its Beaver Nuggets, hot brisket, and the cleanest bathrooms on the road, is located on I-10 near Menge Avenue, exit 24. It’s the first Buc-ee’s in Mississippi. The 74,000-square-foot gas station, convenience store, and gift shop, one of the largest in the country, broke ground in September 2023. The goal was to launch in spring 2025.

Crowds also gathered for a job fair to fill over 200 openings at the new Buc-ee’s last week. According to Josh Smith, director of operations for the Southeast, Mississippi received more employment applications than any other job fair held by the company in recent years. Full-time employment often pays $18 to $24 per hour, plus full benefits.

Founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III established his first travel center on I-10 in Texas in 1982. There are now 50 locations in the United States, with most of them located in the American South and along interstates such as I-95. “Ever since our inception in 1982, we have been committed to providing a clean, friendly, and in stock experience for our customers. Regardless of where you may find us, if the store is big or small, near or far, the mission remains the same,” the company’s mission statement states on its official website.

Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

Buc-ee’s is so popular, in fact, that the retailer recently filed a lawsuit against the similar-sounding Barc-ee’s for trademark infringement.

Barc-ee’s gains an unfair advantage by allegedly using trademarks, including a happy animal mascot similar to Buc-ee’s. Buc-ee’s believes that people are easily misled and may believe the two companies are related.

“Buc-ee’s will not be an idle spectator while others infringe the intellectual property rights that Buc-ee’s has worked so hard to develop,” a representative told FOX Business.

Barc-ee’s logo depicts a cartoon dog riding in a pink automobile on a yellow circle background. According to USA Today, the convenience store claims the image is a “colorful imitation” of its own trademark. According to the corporation, Buc-ee’s success directly inspired Barc-ee’s business strategy.

Barc-ee’s is a coffee and food convenience shop featuring a dog park and a Western-themed “mini-city.” The Marshfield, Missouri, site is now closed.

Despite believing Barc-ee’s will win in court, company owner John Lopez thinks he is unlikely to challenge the lawsuit. With a firm as large as Buc-ee’s, “it may not be worth the fight.”

“Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game,” Lopez posted on Facebook. “My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks.” 

In January, fueling store Super Fuels was summoned to court for allegedly utilizing a similar method. The Super Fuels logo depicts a joyful dog in a red cape on a blue background.

In another trademark infringement case from 2018, travel center Choke Canyon lost to the convenience shop. A federal court determined that the Choke Canyon alligator emblem was too similar to the Buc-ee’s beaver.