Amid Buc-ee'srapid nationwide expansion, co-founder, President and CEO Arch Aplin III has shared what the company looks for in a potential new location: a business-friendly environment and a conservative state government.
The Texas-based company, known for its spotless restrooms and "Beaver Nuggets," recently opened its 58th location in Benton, Arkansas, where Aplin was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton.
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a grand opening video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media.
Tennessee, a reliablyRepublican state,
has long marketed itself as a business-friendly destination, citing its lack of a state income tax,relatively low tax burden and efforts to recruit employers through economic development incentives.
Here's what else to know.
What Buc-ee's CEO said about potential business locations
During the Benton grand opening, Aplin touted the company's expansion opportunities and expressed a preference for opening locations in "conservative, business-friendly states."
"And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building," he said.
"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of a conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin continued. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor and the representatives."
How many Buc-ee's are in Tennessee? How many are in the works
Buc-ee's currently operates two locations in Tennessee. The chain opened its first Volunteer State store in Crossville in 2022 and its second store in Sevierville in 2023.
Two more locations are in the works. A Buc-ee's under construction in Murfreesboro is expected to open in December near Interstate 24 and Joe B. Jackson Parkway, theDaily News Journal reported.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, a fourth Tennessee location is planned for Gallaway, east of Memphis, on the northeast corner of Interstate 40 and Tennessee 196, off Exit 28. The Gallaway store is projected to open in the third quarter of 2027.
How Tennessee aligns with Buc-ee's business model
Tennessee has earned a reputation as one of the nation's most business-friendly states, recently ranking No. 9 in CNBC's business friendliness rankings.
One of the state's biggest advantages is its lack of a personal income tax, which allows both businesses and workers to keep more of their earnings. Companies can reinvest a greater share of their revenue into areas such as hiring, expansion and operations.
State leaders also often encourage corporate relocations through incentives such as tax credits and FastTrack Jobs grants. As a result, Tennessee is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including HCA Healthcare, Tractor Supply Co., and Dollar General.
Tennessee's reputation as a business-friendly state has developed alongside a sustained period of Republican political leadership.
Tennessee has long been a Republican stronghold, with the GOP firmly controlling state government for much of the past two decades.
Republicans currently hold 27 of 33 seats in the Tennessee Senate and 75 of 99 seats in the House of Representatives, giving the party supermajorities in both chambers. According to Ballotpedia, Republicans gained control of the Tennessee Senate in 2004 and took control of the House in 2008.
Contributing: USA TODAY, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Daily News Journal, Peter Burditt
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Could Tennessee get more Buc-ee's? CEO explains why state stands out
