Buc-Ee'S

Arizona's first Buc-ee's is officially open in the West Valley on Monday June 22nd. Located in Goodyear, AZ, the massive 74,000-square-foot (roughly 23% larger than a football field) travel center brings 120 fueling stations, famous Texas barbecue, and the iconic Beaver mascot straight to the Phoenix metro area. It's wild to think that the hotels nearby were sold out for the grand opening. Not only that, people have traveled not only out-of-state but out-of-country for the occasion. It felt like early Y2K again because news outlets had reported people lining up at midnight. Lining up... for a Super Saiyan Gas Station. What!? I waited until I had an actual road trip to pop in because driving to Goodyear to go to a gas station was not happening. And you know what? It's a cool gas station. The food selection is fun because they serve Texas BBQ here. I get why they have a huge following but I have to keep it real; I wouldn't make this a destination but I will stop by if I'm headed that way for a roadtrip. Another cool thing to note: This Goodyear location brought over 200 full-time jobs to the area.

Today, I left my house at 8:30, but I didn't arrive until 9:30. It was overwhelming; even with not many people, everyone moved in a chaotic rhythm. So, I grabbed food and left. I want to go back and spend more time to enjoy it truly. I'm happy they're here. Best of luck! Though I doubt you'll need it, LOL.

Still so busy! However, staff always nice and helpful. My favorite are the Buc-ee's chips and their sweet treats. I will wait for it to calm down before I go back. Easy to get in and out.

We visited the new Buc-ee’s in Arizona during the July 4th holiday weekend, and unfortunately, it was complete chaos. We spent about 15 minutes just driving around the massive parking lot looking for a parking space. Once inside, it felt like there were 10 times too many people packed into every aisle. It was shoulder-to-shoulder throughout the store, making it difficult to browse or enjoy the experience. The biggest disappointment was the deli. The line for the famous brisket sandwiches stretched all the way toward the refrigerated soda section! We overheard several people saying they had already been waiting around 30 minutes, likely because they were still cooking more brisket. After seeing the crowds and long wait, we decided to leave empty-handed. Thankfully, we gave Buc-ee’s a second chance, and it was a completely different experience. There was more parking available, the checkout lines moved surprisingly fast, and although the deli looked busy, it was mostly a grab-and-go system that kept people moving. We were very quick with our grab and go. Know what you want and was in and out in about 17mins from the time we stepped outside to inside the deli. Be mindful you’ll still bump into a few shoppers because it’s a very popular store, people are focusing looking around but we were super excited to have some foods this time. We ended up buying all total of seven different sandwiches and burritos. One piece of advice: it’s very easy to spend over $100 here. We definitely did! The only food that disappointed me was the XXL Brisket Sandwich. The meat was a little too fatty and chewy for my taste, and the bun was thicker and breadier than I prefer. Everything else we tried was fresh and good quality. This is truly a one-stop-shop gas station with an incredible variety of snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and hot foods. Just don’t expect it to be the healthiest place to eat. Since the store is still brand new, everything was very clean, including the floors and restrooms. A helpful tip: look up at the overhead signs! They clearly point you toward the desserts, deli, burritos, and other food stations. I completely missed them during my first visit. If you’re visiting Arizona, Buc-ee’s is definitely worth stopping by at least once to experience the hype and snap a few photos. As a local, I can see myself coming back to try more menu items and maybe even pick up a few Buc-ee’s gift cards to give away. Just avoid holiday afternoons if you can. Your experience will probably be much better.