Buc-ee’s

(Buc-ee’s in New Braunfels, Texas.)

My mom had knee replacement surgery this week, and Ryan and I drove down to San Antonio yesterday to visit her.  She’s doing incredibly well, and will be back to her old self in no time flat!

On the way down, we stopped at Buc-ee’s, the enormous convenience store chain that is appearing all over Texas.  My dad encouraged us to go, informing me that Buc-ee’s has the lowest gas prices in the area and the biggest selection of beef jerky he’s ever seen.  Well, I just had to say the word jerky, and Ryan gladly pulled off the interstate to check it out.

I’m familiar with Buc-ee’s from our many years of driving I-10 to Houston to visit Ryan’s parents, but I had never been inside one until yesterday.  And let me tell you, it really is the biggest convenience store I’ve ever seen!  Buc-ee’s boasts that it features the cleanest restrooms anywhere, and that is definitely true.  The stall I used actually had hand sanitizer inside, and there were rows upon rows of soap dispensers, sinks, paper towels, and more hand sanitizer, so you never have to stand in line.  In fact, the entire store is extremely clean, and organized in a way that is incredibly efficient and easy-to-use.  Since we were traveling on a weekday morning, Buc-ee’s was fairly empty, and there were clerks stationed at each of the three entrances/exits, with bags in hand, ready to check us out.

Ryan asked one woman where the beef jerky was, and she replied, “In bags or fresh?”  She then showed us the bagged jerky AISLE and the entire COUNTER of freshly made jerky.  There’s also a fudge counter, an ice cream counter, a bakery, and row after row after row of every snack food you can imagine.  It’s really a truck driver’s paradise.

I only had my phone with me and wasn’t planning to take any pictures, but I couldn’t resist, so I snapped a few.

(Buc-ee’s Texas Round Up, or, what most people call a meat counter.)

(Buc-ee’s Fudge, Sugared Nuts, and Dippin’ Dots. Remember those?)

(The infamous beef jerky aisle.)

($30 for the large bag of jerky.)

(The fresh jerky counter.)

Ryan bought some bagged jerky and the fresh, and he and my dad snacked on it all afternoon.  I was impressed with the fresh salads and produce, as well as the enormous gift shop at the front of the store.  Seriously, you could spend hours shopping and looking around, since Buc-ee’s is the size of a big box store.

Oddly enough, there’s not a single table or chair in the entire store, so you can’t sit and eat your food anywhere but your car.  Since it’s located on IH-35, a major highway in Texas, it’s ideal for travelers and truck drivers passing through, just don’t expect to stay for lunch.

I feel kind of strange writing about a convenience store, but once you go, you’ll get it.  Buc-ee’s is sort of a Texas phenomenon, and proof that everything’s bigger here.

Have you been to Buc-ee’s yet?  What did you think?