Buc-ee’s CEO Arch Aplin III announced that the travel center chain will prioritize expansion in "conservative, business-friendly" states. The statement follows public criticism regarding the company's use of trademark infringement lawsuits against smaller businesses that utilize similar logos. Aplin noted in a video shared by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) that while the company is building in many locations, a state's workforce and political environment influence its growth strategy.
The shift in focus comes as the company faces pushback in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) described a Buc-ee's lawsuit against a local operator in Beavercreek as "ridiculous." That legal action involves Beaver’s Mini Mart, which is located approximately 16 miles from a planned Buc-ee's site in Huber Heights. Local residents have also expressed disapproval of the company's litigation against the small business.
In addition to the Ohio case, Buc-ee's has pursued similar legal actions in other regions. In the past year, the company filed copyright infringement lawsuits against a store in Florida and an apparel business in South Carolina. The chain currently operates across the Southern United States, including Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with further locations in Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, and Ohio.
The company's stated preference for "conservative" and "business-friendly" environments indicates a strategic shift in where hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment and thousands of jobs will be directed. Each travel center typically features dozens of fuel pumps and massive retail spaces, which generate local tax revenue and employment opportunities. Residents in states that the CEO views as less "appreciative" of the company’s presence may notice a decrease in new developments, while those in prioritized states could see an increase in these large-scale travel centers.
This strategy establishes a precedent for how large corporations may use political alignment as a criterion for geographic expansion in response to local regulatory or legal friction. While the company continues to operate in 12 states, the emphasis on specific political climates suggests that future site selections will be influenced by how local leadership views corporate litigation practices. The specific dates for new openings in the newly prioritized states have not been reported, nor has the outcome of the pending Ohio litigation.