Perhaps you’ve seen the iconic Buc-ee’s billboards along Chicago-area expressways.
They feature a simple black background, a beaver and the number of miles to the popular convenience store and gas station chain’s nearest location. As it stands, the closest Buc-ee’s to Chicago is roughly 400 miles away – near Bowling Green, Kentucky.
If all goes as planned, that distance will be slashed drastically; it would be down to less than 100 miles.
The plan commission in the city of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, approved a proposal for a mega travel center and gas station along Interstate 94 south of Milwaukee. The 73,000-square-foot convenience store, featuring 120 gas pumps and electric vehicle chargers, will be located off the interstate and Elm Road.
WTMJ, the NBC affiliate in Milwaukee, reported the chain expects over 10,000 vehicles to visit the location every day, with it positioned strategically next to the highway.
Despite excitement about the project, some residents have expressed concerns, including about traffic, commercial lighting and noise.
The chain goes above the typical convenience store offerings with its vast selection of souvenirs, home goods and a full bakery.
Also known for having “the cleanest restrooms in America” as well as signature food items like beef jerky and brisket, Buc-ee’s has more than 50 locations in nine states. Its travel centers are primarily found along interstates in the South, but the chain has expanded northward in recent years.
