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On Monday, June 26, Buc-ee's gas stations opened the largest convenience store in the world. Where did they do it?
Classic Cookie's hometown of Sevierville, TN.
Why is this such a big deal?
What is Buc-ee's?
Buc-ee's is a gas station and convenience store chain that started in Texas.
In 1982, two years before Classic Cookie opened for business, Buc-ee's opened its first convenience store in Lake Jackson, TX with its now iconic beaver mascot. For nearly 40 years, the brand only opened locations in Texas.
In 2019, Buc-ee's opened its first location outside of the Lone Star state. Alabama received the first location on the road that leads to the popular tourist destination, Pensacola, FL. From there, Buc-ee's began opening more stores in states like Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Currently, there are 46 locations with more coming.
Why would a 46-store gas station chain be so popular and have a cult-like following? Buc-ee's is unique in the sense that it takes after the Texas mantra, "Everything is bigger in Texas." Most of Buc-ee's locations have tens of thousands of square feet of retail space for customers to shop. Compared to the average convenience store only having about 2500 square feet, this is a massive difference. Buc-ee's also has a multitude of gas pumps with some stations having more than 80 pumps for customers to fuel up with. The bathrooms are also large.
Another reason Buc-ee's is unique is that it has many elements that other convenience stores do not. Buc-ee's has a beef jerky bar, brisket and pulled pork hot sandwich bar (with meat cutting board in plain sight), fresh fudge-making station, roasted nuts machines, outdoor gear section, and home decor section. They even have signs they sell to customers as they walk into the bathrooms.
Buc-ee's Sevierville, Tennessee Location
While all locations are unique compared to other convenience stores, Buc-ee's Sevierville station is special. This location is 45% larger than any other Buc-ee's place with 74,000 square feet of retail space and 120 gas pumps. This makes it the largest convenience store in the world.
To celebrate this achievement, hundreds of people showed up at 6:00 AM on opening day to be the first customers in the Sevierville location. See the crowd in the video below.
Buc-ee's & Classic Cookie
One of the best parts about Buc-ee's is the snacks they sell. From their own branded treats to other sweets, Buc-ee's has something for everyone.
One of the treats they carry is Classic Cookie. Made in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, Classic Cookie's soft-baked jumbo packaged cookies are a perfect grab-and-go treat for any traveler. At the Sevierville Buc-ee's, Classic Cookie has six flavors available for customers:
Travelers can find these cookies across from the Icee Machine in the back corner near the drink coolers.
Best Stop On The Way to The Smoky Mountains
For all travelers going to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, TN, Buc-ee's is a great place to stop to fuel up your car and your body. From treats like Classic Cookie snacks and beaver nuggets to clean restrooms and cheap gas, Buc-ee's largest convenience store has something for everyone.
Do you have a unique cookie story you want to share? Email us at contact@classiccookie.com for a chance to have your machine featured.
Are you a convenience store owner looking for more grab-and-go options? Fill out a Wholesale Application to get started with Classic Cookie.
