Buc-ee's founder Arch "Beaver" Aplin, along with supporters, celebrated the groundbreaking Oct. 14 for the future Murfreesboro store expected to open by December 2026.
The popular business with travelers will open off Interstate 24's exit to Joe B. Jackson Parkway on the southeast side of Murfreesboro, offering 220 gasoline pumps, brisket sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets, other snacks, souvenirs and clean bathrooms.
"It is very much our intention to be a very hospitable member of ya'll's community," Aplin told the audience of government and business officials gathered under a tent.
"If we're hospitable to our customers, people notice. They take note of that. And it comes in a lot of ways. It comes in a smile. It comes in a, 'Welcome.' It comes in open arms."
The Buc-ee's groundbreaking is the fourth in Tennessee from the company founded in Texas in 1982. Buc-ee's operates stores east of Middle Tennessee in Sevierville and Crossville, and broke ground for a store in Gallaway in Fayette County outside the Memphis area in West Tennessee.
The view behind the speaker's lectern for the Oct. 14 groundbreaking showed a large sign touting how Buc-ee's is "COMING SOON TO MURFREESBORO" erected between excavation equipment.
The Murfreesboro store will provide 250 liveable wage jobs, Aplin said.
Murfreesboro real estate broker John Harney with ParkTrust Commercial worked on the property transactions for the 47-acre Buc-ee's. Harney told The Daily News Journal how the jobs will start out at $20 an hour and include health care benefits, 401K retirement plans and three weeks of paid vacation.
The Buc-ee's employees will work at a 74,000-square-foot store that's larger than many grocery stores.
Another place for food: Kroger plans to open 9th grocery store in Rutherford County by Smyrna High
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee also spoke at the groundbreaking.
"This is a great day not only in Murfreesboro but really for our state," Lee said.
The Governor recalled meeting the company's founder in Texas before Buc-ees decided to open the first store in Sevierville.
"I went to that ribbon-cutting," Lee said. "Their continued investment in our state has been a gift to Tennesseans."
This is a developing story.
Speciality grocery store: Trader Joe's continues Tennessee expansion by opening store Murfreesboro store
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at [email protected]. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.