Latest news with #BeaverNuggets
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
America's top 15 gas stations for food, people are skipping restaurants to eat there
Do you think gas station food consists of stale snacks and mystery meat? Think again. Certain gas stations across the United States are gaining cult status, surprisingly, for their surprisingly delicious food. From hand-breaded chicken to fresh pizzas and milkshakes, these restaurants are fueling more than just your car. The culinary website Chowhound has curated a list of the 15 finest gas stations in America for food, according to online evaluations. These stations provide an array of culinary choices, encompassing nutritious smoothies, gourmet doughnuts, sushi, and additional selections, as per a report by Fox News. ALSO READ: After Trump's team calls him a 'Madman' over Syria strikes, Netanyahu out for 3 days with food poisoning by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remember Him? Sit Down Before You See What He Looks Like Now 33 Bridges Undo Numerous establishments are family-owned and operated, possess a rich history, and some contribute a portion of their profits to charitable organizations. The list emphasizes the diversity of food options available at gas stations throughout the US. All across the country, travelers are discovering that the best bites might just come from places where you fill your tank. Here's a rundown of top 15 gas stations that are winning people over, not just for their convenience, but for what's cooking inside. Live Events 1. Casey's (Midwest) Famous for its breakfast pizza (yes, that's eggs, cheese, and sausage gravy on dough), Casey's offers made-from-scratch pies and is one of the largest chains in the U.S. With over 2,900 locations, it's a staple in many towns. 2. Buc-ee's (Texas & South) A Texas favorite that's gone national, Buc-ee's is legendary for its brisket sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets (sweet puffed corn), fudge, and jerky. People also rave about the cleanest bathrooms in America. 3. Kwik Trip (Midwest) Family-owned and operated, Kwik Trip is known for glazed doughnuts, all-day breakfast sandwiches, and a rotating menu of hot food. It's often described as a "restaurant that just happens to sell gas." 4. Royal Farms (East Coast) In Maryland and nearby states, fried chicken lovers head to Royal Farms. Their hand-breaded chicken and fresh-cut fries keep locals and travelers coming back. 5. Maverik (Utah & Western U.S.) Maverik leans into adventure themes with its BonFire brand of burritos, wraps, and pizzas. Their soda machines have mix-ins like lime and coconut, making them a fun stop for families. 6. Wawa (East Coast) This Pennsylvania-based chain is adored for its coffee, hoagies, and seasonal specials like mac & cheese with garlic aioli. Many fans say they'd pick Wawa over fast food any day. 7. Love's (Nationwide) With more than 600 locations, Love's offers grab-and-go favorites like taquitos, egg rolls, and fruit cups. Known for being trucker-friendly, it also stocks healthier snack choices. 8. Rutter's (Pennsylvania) Rutter's stands out with fresh produce, local items, and food made to order. Think patty melts, breakfast bowls, and even blueberry parfaits. 9. Kelley's Market (Illinois & Wisconsin) This regional chain offers everything from smoothies and tacos to craft pizzas and a PB-bacon-banana sandwich called the "Elvis Wich." 10. Spinx (Carolinas) Comfort food rules here. Spinx serves chicken gizzards, pork chops, and sausage croissants. If you're in South Carolina, this is a must-try. 11. QuikTrip (Midwest & South) Known as 'QT' to its fans, this chain offers signature QuickShakes, grilled cheese with bacon, and pulled pork sandwiches, all at budget-friendly prices. 12. Hy-Vee Gas Stations (Midwest) Hy-Vee blends grocery store quality with convenience. Some stations offer sushi, breakfast pizza, and even salad bars. It's a one-stop shop. 13. Weigel's (Tennessee) With its own dairy and bakery, Weigel's is known for flavored milks like horchata and orange creamsicle, as well as fresh pizza and house-made baked goods. 14. 7-Eleven (Worldwide) The classic chain still delivers with Slurpees, taquitos, and 7-Select brand sandwiches. Not bad if you're looking for familiar flavors on the go. 15. Allsup's/Yesway (Southwest & Plains) Known for their deep-fried beef and bean burritos, these stations also serve unique options like pepperoni pizza burritos and hatch chile chicken chimichangas. FAQs Do people really go to gas stations just for the food? Yes! Some stations have loyal fans who stop by even when they don't need fuel. What kinds of food do gas stations serve? Everything from breakfast pizza and burritos to sushi and specialty doughnuts.
Axios
01-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Buc-ee's first Virginia store is here
Virginia's first Buc-ee's travel center opened Monday at 6am, just off I-81 in Rockingham County, near Harrisonburg. Why it matters: It's the first of three planned Virginia locations for the massive, and beloved, Texas-based gas station chain. State of play: Our first Buc-ee's has 120 fuel pumps and 74,000 square feet of roadside convenience store offerings, open 24/7. But Buc-ee's, as anyone who's been to one knows, is more than a simple roadtrip pitstop. Those square feet are chock-full of treats like Beaver Nuggets, Texas barbecue, homemade fudge, kolaches, jalapeño peanut brittle and a whole wall of jerky. Then there are the award-winning bathrooms. The bottom line: In the words of our colleague Adam Tamburin in Nashville, Buc-ee's turns a roadside pitstop into "a visit to Willy Wonka's factory." What we're watching: Virginia's next two Buc-ee's outposts are in the works in New Kent off I-64 near exit 211 and in Stafford, off I-95.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand opening of first Mississippi Buc-ee's draws huge crowd
HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – The first Buc-ee's in Mississippi opened on June 9 to a lot of fanfare. 'It's amazing. I love being able to come up here 15 minutes from my house, instead of having to drive one hour and something over to Foley. So, it's great to have this here now,' said Ava Graham, a customer. Mississippi Lottery makes May 2025 transfer to state The travel center is located off of Interstate 10 and is one of the largest in the nation. It spans 74,000-square feet, 126 gas pumps, 24 EV charging stations and 165 toilets. It's an ideal stop for travelers heading to the beach, coastal casinos or nearby New Orleans. The big draw on Monday was the food. Crowded lined up for brisket, fudge and Beaver Nuggets. Beyond the buzz, Buc-ee's is also a boost to the local economy, creating more than 200 full time jobs. 'It's going to be a great thing here for the people of Hancock and Harrison County, for sure. We definitely needed just a little bit of freshness when it comes to the job market here. So, this is a great thing,' said one customer. The travel center still has job openings for cashiers, deli workers, maintenance staff and more. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New, big Buc-ee's in Mississippi will open soon. What to know about when, where
If you've never been to a Buc-ee's Travel Center, there's one thing you've got to know. It's not just a destination — it's an experience. For many Mississippi residents, the fun will be closer to home now that the first Buc-ee's in the state is opening soon. To prepare visitors ahead of the grand opening, we recently visited the Robertsdale, Alabama, location (also known as the Loxley store), to get a closer look at what the hype is all about. "We're known for being an experience for people to come and enjoy that's going to be clean, safe, and a place where family can all have a good time," general manager Richard Shires said. Meadie Rigsby, a New Orleans native who lives in Magee, tries to take a break at the store when she can. "You can't help but stop. You always see something new, and you always see somebody you know," she said. "Even if you don't know them, everybody is smiling when you walk in here. It's just something to see." Shires said it's the friendliness and the cleanliness that make visitors enjoy the experience, but there is a whole lot more. "We have great food, great merchandise and Buc-ee-branded merchandise," Shires said. "Some people number all the Buc-ee's they've been to. Some have been to all of them, and they have all the destination shirts that they show off." Here's what you need to know about when Mississippi's Buc-ee's will open, what you can expect from the chain that has a cult following, from clean bathroom, to custom clothes to Beaver Nuggets. The first Buc-ee's Travel Center in Mississippi will open on Monday, June 9. After it opens, there will be 34 locations. Two more are set to open by the end of summer, Shires said. Check this out: Mississippi Aquarium beaver billboards show similarities with new Buc-ee's opening soon The new store is on Interstate 10 at the Menge Avenue exit in Pass Christian. All Buc-ee's are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, according to the company website. Whether you're on the road passing through the state or just getting gas after work, the travel center is big enough to handle it all. First, you'll notice how large Buc-ee's is compared to other travel centers. The Mississippi location is about 74,000 square feet. That's 20,000 square feet bigger than the Robertsdale location. Shires said the Mississippi store will have three entrances, larger restrooms and, well, just more. There are 120 fuel pumps, which means there is rarely a long wait to fill up. Buses and RVs are allowed, but 18-wheelers are not. There are also 24 charging stations for electric vehicles. "We're known for our clean restrooms," Shires said. The restrooms have attendants who make sure the facilities are clean. Artwork by local artists lines the hallway to the restrooms, and the paintings are for sale if anyone takes a fancy to them. He said consistency at every store and for every visit is essential to the brand. While you're filling up the gas tank, the rest of the family can wander inside. This is where the fun begins. Anywhere you look, there will be rows and rows of almost everything. Each store has food, clothing, outdoor furniture, grills, toys, and more. Shires said he estimates visitors spend between 30 and 45 minutes inside, looking at all the products, using the restroom, getting a bite to eat and migrating to their favorite areas. "They get sidetracked," he said. "They can get broken away from their parties and have to find them." One thing that doesn't take much time inside a Buc-ee's? Waiting in like to check out at the cash register. "It's a very fast experience once they get to that part," Shires said. Veterans of Buc-ee's know the Beaver Nuggets are the most popular snacks at the travel centers. They're great for munching on long road trips or gifting to friends. There are rows and rows of various candies, chips and other snack foods, some with the Buc-ee's brand, which is continuously expanding, Shires said. Gummies, chocolates, jelly beans, taffy, hard candy, sours — you name it, Buc-ee's has it. The same goes for snacks. Potato chips, roasted nuts and cheese puffs all come in a variety of flavors that will please just about any palate. Jerky fans will be pleased to know there is a wall of jerky with roughly 20 varieties to choose — or should we say chews — from. Want something a little extra for snacking on? Wander to the center of the store, where most of the action is, and your taste buds will be heightened by the scent of roasted nuts, kolaches and fresh-made fudge. Brook Hill and Bayleigh Hill, both of Laurel, were at the fudge counter, where they were trying to decide which of the 22 flavors to buy. They were on their way to Disney World in Florida when they stopped at Buc-ee's for a break. "We thought, just go ahead and get the fudge, you'll walk it off," Bayleigh said. Whether you like chocolate, with or without nuts, peanut butter, rocky road or other flavors, you can pick your own for a sampler box or buy just a few for the road. It's made in-house, so it's always fresh. The Hills were off to the meat counter next, where they were looking forward to getting a sandwich. The stores have roasted pecans, cashews and other nut varieties. You can also buy prepackaged nuts and fudge in the snack area for convenience, but those are made off-site. You might be wondering, what's a kolache? It's a pastry filled with something sweet or something savory that originated in the Czech Republic and popular in Texas where Buc-ee's originates. It's a little more dense than a Danish pastry, but very similar in appearance. Pre-packaged desserts and fresh snacks are nearby for easy pick up or you can find some hot apple pie on a stick at the Texas Roundup station. Find summer fun near home: Mississippi is one of best places for cheap road trips. While Buc-ee's doesn't have a sit-down restaurant, you can get fresh-cooked brisket, smoked turkey or pulled pork sandwiches to enjoy on the road. Pick up some Beaver Chips to go with your sandwich and you've got the makings of a hot meal. "The food — oh gosh, you can't help but get something in here," Rigsby said. Jeff Wilson, who lives in Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, about 30 miles south of Duluth, was coming from Perdido Key, Florida, with his wife to pick up lunch at Buc-ee's, even though it was about an hour to an hour and a half drive. It was the couple's third trip. The sandwiches are prepared in an open kitchen where customers can pick up pre-made ones sitting under the food warmer or wait for the "fresh brisket on the board" from the Texas Roundup station. "We didn't even eat before we left," Brook said. "We said we'd eat when we got to Buc-ee's. Their meat is the best." There are tacos, burritos and more served hot and fresh, too. With its roots in Texas, Buc-ee's wouldn't be Buc-ee's without them. You can choose from the many Buc-ee's brand hot sauce flavors or dry rub and seasoning blends to pack away for the trip home. There is also a barbecue sauce, but it comes in only one flavor, as it's Buc-ee's signature sauce. Pickled products, including cucumbers, jalapenos and quail eggs, also fill shelves. Other items to help you ramp up your culinary skills, like cutting boards, kitchen or grill utensils and serving dishes, are dotted throughout he store. Dinnerware and glassware in a variety of styles are also kept in stock. Humorous signs and other accessories add the perfect accents to the kitchen or patio. Buc-ee's even has books that show you how to make your favorite dish or cocktail. Toys, sporting goods, outdoor cooking and camping equipment are among the many, many things customers can buy at Buc-ee's that can fill the hours with fun. Books, boogie boards and board games can help vacationers pass the time while in between activities. Nine-year-old Scarlet Stender of Piggott, Arkansas, was looking at some of the Buc-ee's clothing, jewelry and stuffed animals, smiling from ear-to-ear. "I want everything," she said. "There's so much fun stuff." It's not only geared toward kids. Handmade soaps, lotions and candles in many scents fill the spa section. Neck warmers and pillows, terrycloth robes and comfy slippers, hair accessories, makeup mirrors and other accessories finish off the experience. Clothing for men, women and children, with and without the Buc-ee's brand fill the store, outfitting the entire family from newborns to great-grandparents. Each store has its own special shirt bearing the location and Buc-ee's logo. Wilson said he and his wife bought some hats and T-shirts to take home for friends. His wife also bought a few outfits for the couple's new grandchild. If you don't feel like you've had a day at the mall, you haven't had a full Buc-ee's experience. But don't worry. It takes time to become a Buc-ee's veteran. Visit the travel centers a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Just remember to set yourself a budget or you could end up in a beaver stew. Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@ Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: First Buc-ee's in Mississippi will open soon. What you need to know
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's is coming to NC, but critics remain vocal about mega-center's impact
Buc-ee's has already received the green light to build one of the world's largest gas stations on 32 acres at Exit 152, off Interstates 85/40 in Mebane. But the project's opponents in this small but growing blue-collar town refuse to back down. The Indigenous-led 7 Directions of Service, in partnership with North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN), have released a report, renewing health, air and water concerns against the 120-pump gas station planned for a largely vacant stretch of Trollinger-Hawfields Road in Alamance County. It's about 50 miles west of downtown Raleigh and 130 miles north of uptown Charlotte. 'Mega gas stations like Buc-ee's are not just roadside stops — they are sources of toxic pollution,' Rania Masri, NCEJN's co-director, said on Tuesday outside Mebane City Hall, in a press conference livestreamed on the groups' Instagram pages. The approved store will be less than half the size of Mebane's Walmart Supercenter. Among the report's charges: that the mega gas station would consume an estimated 23,000 gallons of water daily, sit across from a mobile home community, and store fuel in quantities that pose risks to drinking water if leaks occur. 'We do not need more toxic infrastructure,' Masri said. 'We need more clean water, breathable air, and communities where health and dignity are non-negotiable.' The report also highlights the project's potential harm to historic Native American trading paths that served the Catawba, Occaneechi and Waxhaw. 7 Directions has collected over 1,600 signatures on a petition against the project and rallied speakers to attend public hearings.. It's working to map the path and document its history to fight against Buc-ee's. 'It's a disgrace that the city would allow this piece of historic landscape to be bulldozed over,' said Crystal Cavalier, its cofounder, at the conference. Buc-ee's officials were unavailable for comment. In January 2024, the Mebane City Council unanimously voted to approve the project and rezone the site. On Tuesday, the city provided a video link to the meeting and stood by its decision. 'Mebane citizens and the general public presented statements and evidence as required by North Carolina General Statutes and Mebane Unified Development Ordinance,' Mebane spokeswoman Kelly Hunter said in a statement. This was Texas-based Buc-ee's second attempt to make a foray into North Carolina. The first was about eight miles east in Orange County, where the project was roundly dissed before Buc-ee's withdrew its application. Buc-ee's has a cult following, thanks in part to its Beaver Nuggets, housemade brisket and barbecue. But opponents say the benefits won't outweigh the negative impact to traffic, the environment and town character. Many of those who opposed the planned Buc-ee's in Orange County also fought the plan for Alamance County. Buc-ee's will have a 74,000-square-foot convenience store, 120 gas pumps (60 fueling stations) and 652 parking spaces, including 24 electric vehicle charging stations. Neighboring tenants include two UPS facilities, a copper mill, and Lidl, Walmart and Amazon distribution centers. The travel center said it will hire at least 225 full-time workers, pay annual property taxes of $120,300 to the city and county, and bring in about $1.8 million in sales tax revenue. The company is not getting any city or county economic development incentives. Buc-ee's could add up to 1,500 more trips each hour at peak times, and nearly 2,300 trips at peak hours on Saturdays. Buc-ee's does not serve tractor-trailer trucks. City staff expect Buc-ee's to use 23,000 gallons of water a day, compared to 2.1 million gallons a day for existing Mebane customers. Buc-ee's has submitted detailed plans to the city and to the N.C. Department of Transportation, which remain under review, said Ashley Ownbey, Mebane's development director. Construction could start once the developer gets building permits. 'We have a few more comments for them to address,' she said in a phone call Tuesday. 'I imagine they'll be able to turn those around quickly.' Road improvements also are needed before the store opens, including more travel and turn lanes on Trollingwood-Hawfields Road and the Interstates 85/40 on-and off-ramps, new stoplights and a wider bridge over the interstate. The N.C. Department of Transportation started work on the $38.7 million project this spring, with Buc-ee's picking up $10 million of the cost. The work could take up to two years, but shutdowns and detours are not expected, NCDOT officials have said.
