Rebuttal: In Defense of Buc-ee’s and What It Represents for Texas

Recently, Jalopnik published an article titled “Buc-ee’s Is the Sickness at the Heart of America”. After reading through the critiques, I couldn’t disagree more with its premise. While I don’t consider Buc-ee’s flawless—no brand is—this article struck me as missing the mark on almost every front. Let’s break down the critiques and set the record straight.

Buc-ee’s and Texas: A Brand That Embodies State Pride

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Buc-ee’s is a Texas institution. While the company has been expanding its footprint outside the Lone Star State, at its core, it’s still a Texas brand through and through. Unlike many corporations that sell out their founding vision to the highest bidder, Buc-ee’s remains privately owned by its original founders. This kind of consistency in leadership speaks volumes against the claim that it somehow hurts small businesses. In fact, Buc-ee’s story is one of Texan entrepreneurship, not the predatory growth seen in some other chains.

On Small Businesses: Buc-ee’s Isn’t the Threat

The article posits that Buc-ee’s harms small businesses, but this claim lacks substance. Buc-ee’s operates in a niche that no small business competes in—an intersection of gas station, convenience store, and road trip destination. You’re not going to find a mom-and-pop shop with 50 fuel pumps, the cleanest restrooms on the highway, and a sprawling retail section offering everything from branded shirts to kolaches. Buc-ee’s isn’t taking customers from local diners or small grocery stores; it’s catering to road trippers, commuters, and families. Plus, its locations are typically far from urban centers where small businesses thrive, mitigating the supposed impact.

Employee Treatment: Buc-ee’s Sets the Bar High

One of the most laughable points in the article was the vague critique of Buc-ee’s labor practices. It’s practically a meme how well Buc-ee’s pays its employees, offering wages far above industry norms. Job boards are filled with testimonies from employees raving about the company, and the low turnover rate speaks for itself. In fact, Buc-ee’s is so selective in hiring that some applicants say it’s tough to even land a position. That doesn’t sound like a company mistreating its workforce—it sounds like a company employees want to be part of.

Environmental Concerns: A Misplaced Critique

Yes, Buc-ee’s locations are massive, and that does come with a land-use footprint. However, their locations are almost always outside of dense city centers, meaning they’re not paving over prime urban real estate or replacing historic neighborhoods. Buc-ee’s serves highway travelers—its very concept is tied to its placement along major interstates. Critiquing Buc-ee’s for land use feels more like a critique of car culture itself, which seems out of place for a publication that built its name on automotive enthusiasm.

Cultural Homogenization: A Truly Bizarre Argument

The claim that Buc-ee’s contributes to cultural homogenization is probably the most absurd. Buc-ee’s isn’t erasing local culture; it’s building on it. Its stores are loaded with regional Texan goods, and the chain itself is as Texas as it gets. If anything, Buc-ee’s helps export a piece of Texas culture to travelers and new locations across the country. To suggest Buc-ee’s is eroding local identity simply because it’s a recognizable brand is not only incorrect but also deeply reductive.

Jalopnik’s Decline: A Former Fan’s Perspective

I first encountered this article on X (follow us @txgarage), where I responded publicly that I’d be writing a rebuttal. What struck me most about the response to the original article wasn’t just my disagreement—it was how many others felt the same way. As someone who has been a part of the online automotive enthusiast community for years, I used to check Jalopnik regularly. While I didn’t always agree with the tone or attitude, the site did have solid content back in the day. But looking at the comments on X and judging from this piece, it’s clear the site has lost its way. An article like this—focused on vague cultural critiques and light on substance—feels miles away from the automotive content Jalopnik used to be known for.

Buc-ee’s Is a Symbol of What’s Great About Texas

At its heart, Buc-ee’s represents the best of Texas: big ideas, bold execution, and a focus on quality. Whether it’s their pristine restrooms, their famously stocked snack aisles, or their friendly service, Buc-ee’s consistently delivers an experience that’s not just about consumerism but about creating something that makes road trips memorable. Critiques of its size, success, or reach ultimately fall flat because they misunderstand the very reasons why Buc-ee’s is beloved.

If Jalopnik’s article is any indication of where their focus lies these days, it’s no wonder so many readers feel they’ve strayed from their automotive roots. But let’s leave the misplaced critiques behind. Buc-ee’s isn’t a “sickness”—it’s a success story, and one we Texans are proud to call our own.