A cluster of gas station loyalists in Texas are bidding a heartfelt and emotional goodbye to their local Buc-ee's. The beloved Texas-born mega gas station chain has been aggressively expanding over the past year, rolling out ambitious plans to plant its supersized travel centers across even more states in 2026. This is why fans were surprised after the roadside giant quietly confirmed it is shutting down one of its long-standing Texas locations - a rare move for the wildly popular chain that seems to be spreading at breakneck speed.
The cult-favorite convenience store brand will close its Port Lavaca site, known as Store No. 12, after more than a quarter of a century serving locals and road-trippers alike. The location at 2318 W Main St. is now set for an unexpected transformation, with plans underway to turn it into a 7-Eleven complete with a Laredo Taco Company - marking the third 7-Eleven outlet in the small coastal city.
City official Derrick Smith revealed that news of the change first surfaced in a March 16 email from a signage company, indicating the Buc-ee's branding would soon disappear in favor of the globally recognized convenience chain. Despite the development, no formal building permits have yet been filed, suggesting the overhaul is still in its early stages.
The closure may come as a shock to loyal customers, but the Port Lavaca store represents a very different era of Buc-ee's. Unlike the sprawling mega travel centers the company is now famous for, this location is one of its older, smaller formats - a model the company has been steadily phasing out. Similar closures have already taken place across Texas in towns like Lake Jackson, El Campo, West Columbia and Gonzales as Buc-ee's pivots toward its supersized empire of massive fueling stations, enormous retail spaces and record-breaking car washes.
Far from signaling trouble, the shutdown is just a tiny blip in Buc-ee's relentless growth story. The company is charging ahead with ambitious plans to plant its flag in at least seven new states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin. Fresh locations are also in the pipeline for Murfreesboro, Tennessee and San Marcos, Texas, while new openings slated for 2026 include sites in Huber Heights, Ohio and Goodyear, Arizona. Back home in Texas, Buc-ee's already operates 36 locations, with even more on the horizon as the brand doubles down on its signature larger-than-life travel centers - leaving behind the smaller stores that helped build its name in the first place.
While Port Lavaca's residents are sad to see Buc-ee's go, residents of a town in Virginia are experiencing the exact opposite. The community of Stafford is up in arms about the installation of a 120-pump, 74,000-square-foot gas station in their backyard. Right now, a Change.org petition has gathered more than 2,500 signatures, with many supporters packing a recent public meeting to passionately voice their opposition. In 2024, protesters also demonstrated outside a Stafford public safety center, holding signs that read, 'Our children deserve better. Say NO to more traffic!' According to reports, the main concerns center on heavy traffic, related safety issues, and the overdevelopment of the neighborhood. The online petition - featuring Bucky crossed out with a red 'no' symbol - appears particularly focused on the influx of visitors and the strain they could place on local facilities.
As it plants its flag in new corners of the map, it promises more supersized pit stops with a hundred-plus gas pumps, a store packed with brisket and beaver nuggets, and famously clean bathrooms. Buc-ee's has a cult following, particularly among Gen-Z, thanks to its social media-friendly snacks and over-the-top scale. Fan favorites include the Sausage on a Stick, Dr Pepper Icees and an entire wall of jerky. The announcement of a new Buc-ee's location in Fort Pierce, Florida, made headlines in January after early plans suggested the gas station would span 76,000 square feet - about half the size of a Walmart Supercenter and even bigger than the company's current largest store in Luling, Texas.
