Coming to KCK: Why Buc-ee’s is the unexpected hub for unity in divided times | Opinion
I have two messages for those concerned about our nation post-election.
No. 1: Choose joy, folks. Everything will be OK.
No. 2: There’s always Buc-ee’s.
OK, I know it’s not that simple, but stay with me. I’ve been hearing from many of you with concerns. An African American reader called me Thursday morning, worried about Donald Trump winning the presidency.
Members of a writing group I meet with daily mourned about the polarized nation we live in.
On social media, Black women are promising to “stop helping” and pro-Kamala Harris white women want to wear blue bracelets to show support.
If you follow me on social media, you know that “choose joy” is my mantra about most things I can’t control. If you do everything in your power to do (such as registering and voting), and things still don’t go your way, you have to release that fear, sadness and anger.
OK, but how does Buc-ee’s play into this scenario? Don’t we already have large gas stations and travel centers dotting our highways? Sure. But Buc-ee’s seems to be the great equalizer. People of all ethnicities from both the red and blue sides of the ballot seem to love it and seek it out.
With one already in Springfield, Missouri, and another one coming to Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway, both my messages apply: Choose joy, and greet each other at Buc-ee’s.
With a kind of cult following, people seem to find their own kind of joy in the sprawling gas station and general store with a silly name and a playful beaver logo. Never mind the 120 gas pumps and 12 electric vehicle charging stations coming to the KCK location — inside the storefront, you feel a sort of wonder in exploring the vast space (74,000 square feet).
It’s not exactly a Walmart, where both the college educated and the working man wander aisles for groceries and necessities. But in a way, it is. Buc-ee’s mingles folks from the family backyard barbecue with those from the quinceaneras and the cotillions.
I haven’t been inside one since the election, and the stores’ phone numbers are unlisted (that’s true), so I can’t speak to the Trump-win vibe. (I did email corporate offices and I await a description of the post-Nov. 5 atmosphere.)
However, I’ve visited a few in Texas, where the stores first launched. Like many of its fans, I was delighted by the sparkling restrooms and the delicious food. It’s like an amusement park for weary travelers on the road.
Hobby Lobby meets junk food vibes
I describe Buc-ee’s to newbies as a Hobby Lobby aesthetic meets junk food heaven. It’s kitschy, corny and convenient — with a slight Christian vibe. The store sells products that appeal to both the right and the left, without offending either.
An example is its election T-shirt featuring the famous beaver with buck teeth, and the words: “Buc-ee’s 2024, a party we can all join!”
No matter if you voted red or blue, you can enjoy the cheap gas, the restroom experience and savor the epicurean variety.
Perhaps I overstate. This isn’t James Beard award-winning food, but it’s delicious, I have to say. The jerky variety is enormous. The snacks are salty and sweet. And — dare I say as a Kansas Citian? — the barbecue brisket sandwiches are tender, sweet and tangy. Yes, it’s that tasty. All Buc-ee’s needs is burnt ends, and then KC barbecue might be in trouble.
The Star reported that the giant gas station and convenience store submitted early site plans for review by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. The UG Board of Commissioners gave the green light to the project Thursday after getting a unanimous vote from the Economic Development and Finance Committee.
Buc-ee’s can be found in the Midwest to southeastern parts of America (Sorry, California and the Pacific Northwest). There are locations in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and now Kansas. Plans are to build in North Carolina. (Not confirmed are potential sites in Louisiana, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.)
Some leaders think it’s great for their local areas.
Pat Warren, president of the Kansas Speedway, said of the KCK location, “This is a phenomenal opportunity for Wyandotte County and Village West.”
Community Playmaker, a website for city leaders and visionaries, wrote about “the Buc-ee’s effect”: “When a community leader sees a Buc-ee’s, they may see revenue, economic impact, and new jobs.”
Buc-ee’s has its detractors, of course — some think it artificially subsidizes demand — but it wouldn’t be America without opinions. So far, the store/gas station/eatery brings together all kinds of folks for fuel, fun and foolishness.
Just remember, the world will right itself. If you have faith, believe in God. If you are civic-minded, continue to work for social justice and democracy. If you practice shopping therapy, do it.
Like the shirt says, it’s a party we all can join. Maybe seeing each other enjoy the jerky, the brisket sandwiches and the Beaver Nuggets from the comfort of our Ford trucks, our Toyotas and our Range Rovers just might help us see each other as people. Not Trump or Harris voters.
If Buc-ee’s can’t help, I pray for us all.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 10:28 AM.
