dpJune 4, 2026Updated June 5, 2026, 1:41 p.m. ET
Convenience megastore Buc-ee’s will open a new outpost in northeast Ohio after the company pledged to cover the $15 million infrastructure required to get it up and running.
Buc-ee’s, a chain of convenience stores, gas stations and megamarts known for their large, clean bathrooms and beaver mascot, said its Mansfield, Ohio, location is one of more than a dozen it’s looking to open over the next few years, according to the Mansfield News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Here’s what to know about the deal, and where Buc-ee’s is headed next.
Buc-ee’s pledges to cover costs as part of deal
Mansfield City Council on June 2 unanimously approved a development plan for a new Buc-ee’s Travel Center in Ohio’s Richland County, which sits roughly halfway between Columbus and Cleveland.
The plan was approved after Buc-ee’s pledged to cover the necessary infrastructure costs, which are expected to run $15 million, according to the Mansfield News Journal.
“They’re advancing all the money for the infrastructure,” Greg Daniels, outside counsel for the development agreement, told the outlet. “They’re paying it all out of pocket, up front. They will get paid back in turn through (a) sales tax charge.”
The deal is part of a New Community Authority, which Daniels said is common in the Columbus area.
A New Community Authority in Ohio is a public-private partnership that allows cities, counties and developers to share the costs of constructing public infrastructure within a defined district.
Daniels said the sales tax surcharge will be applied to items not including fuel. It will be 2%, with 1.75% going to Buc-ee’s, which is expected to recoup the money in 20 years. The additional 0.25% will be reinvested in infrastructure projects throughout the area.
“We did a lot of work with Buc-ee’s. It was really collaborative,” Daniels said. “I’m very happy with the way it turned out. I think this is a great example of a public-private partnership.”
The project is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2028, though that is subject to change.
More than a truck stop
Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982 and has since expanded its footprint to more than 50 locations across a dozen states, with the vast majority of outlets in Texas.
The company positions itself as more than your average truck stop or roadside convenience store.
“First and foremost, we are not a truck stop. We like to be known as a family-centered travel center,” Angela Janik, who oversees Buc-ee’s project coordination and development, told the Mansfield City Council. “We’ve essentially turned the industry upside-down. We are more of an all-purpose stop than a convenience stop.”
Buc-ee’s expansion plans through 2031
Mansfield isn’t the only U.S. city getting a new Buc-ee’s.
Crissy Gonzales, Buc-ee’s media coordinator, previously confirmed in an email to USA TODAY the opening dates for the following locations:
- Goodyear, Arizona: June 22
- San Marcos, Texas: July 27
- Benton, Arkansas: Aug. 17
She added that a location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is projected to open Nov. 16.
The company’s contact page has several more locations opening through 2031.
2027
- Ruston, Louisiana
- Kansas City, Kansas
- Gallaway, Tennessee
- St. Lucie, Florida
- Boerne, Texas
- Monroe County, Georgia
2028
- Mebane, North Carolina
- Lafayette, Louisiana
2029 and beyond
- Ocala, Florida
- West Memphis, Arkansas
- Oak Grove, Kentucky
- Hardeeville, South Carolina (2031)
Contributing: James Powel, USA TODAY
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected].
