Buc-ee’s CEO says ‘conservative’ states will get stores — and there are three requirements any location must meet

AOL ^ | 08/26/2028 | Erin Keller

[Responsibility2nd]

The CEO of Buc-ee’s says the beloved convenience chain will focus expansion on conservative states as the beaver-themed brand faces scrutiny over its repeated trademark lawsuits.

Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, also the Texas chain’s co-founder, made the remarks last week during the grand opening of Buc-ee’s first Arkansas location in Benton.

"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on social media.

"And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building,” Aplin added.

He then explained that Buc-ee’s-worthy locations must meet three of the brand’s key values.

[NorthMountain]

QUIT SUING EVERYBODY WITH A BEAVER LOGO!

[NorthMountain]

Beavercreek Township was established as such when Tejas was still Mexico ...

[PAR35]

or when "In 'n' Out", a truly great California original, finally closed one in Oakland for the safety of workers and customers.

And the owner of the chain moved from California to Nashville, taking some of the executives with her.

[linedrive]

I wonder if not pursuing these claims would jeopardize their ability to pursue legitimate rip-off artists; the appearance of being prejudicial in what they want to pursue?

[Pontiac]

There is a BeaverCreek and a Beaver Vally in Pennsylvania.

I wonder how long before Buc-ee’s get’s around to them.

[09Patriot]

I live down the road from this Benton location , I really like it. the brisket, cheezesteak burrito...perfect

[mmichaels1970]

I wonder if not pursuing these claims would jeopardize their ability to pursue legitimate rip-off artists; the appearance of being prejudicial in what they want to pursue?

Maybe. Our judicial system is stupid, top to bottom. They and our litigious culture tend to ruin anything fun anymore.

[Dr. Sivana]

I wonder how long before Buc-ee’s get’s around to them.

Or the animal representative of Canada. Trump might back Buc-cees in the challenge.

[mmichaels1970]

However, I think Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio might be conservative enough to merit a Buc-cee's.

We've already got a couple.

[Dr. Sivana]

In the old days, when I drove from Rockford, Illinois to Connecticut (and back), a stop at an Ohio Buc-cee’s offf of I-80 would have been on the agenda. Beats the Burger King we had for lunch on Thanksgiving at the highway rest stop.

[libertylover]

Did the Mom and Pop design the logo AFTER the rise and success of Buc-Cee’s?

It seems like a simple common-sense rule to me. And these little stores pose no threat to Buc-ee's that I can see. Seems to me like they'd be better to be good neighbors..

I do have one near me. It is/was the first one in Kentucky. 120 gas pumps!

[Jamestown1630]

They recently opened a Virginia location and are planning another one in the state. Much of Virginia is Conservative, but the DC Metro area has enormous influence and has made it Blue.

[dfwgator]

Not that I don’t like Buc-ee’s, but I always make a point to stop at the Czech Stop in West when I drive on I-35 heading back home to DFW, I do not want to see Buc-ee’s put them out of business.

[catnipman]

looks like buc-ee’s is trying to trademark the word “beaver” ... reminds me of when sun microsystems was suing everyone under the sun for using the word “java” ...

[OrioleFan]

The beaver mini mart, which BTW doesn’t have a gas pump, is up the street from where I live (walking distance).

[posterchild]

https://wallys.com is similar.

A Buc-ees is coming near where I live sometime in the future. The only time I stopped at a Buc-ees was north of Houston. I bought 2 brisket sandwiches. One was OK the other was just a bunch of the fat trimmings.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

There is a small family stored named Gimbel’s in Maine, that was sued by the large national department chain (as in “So Does Macys tell Gimbels?” The one in Maine is still open.

[z3n]

Why courts won’t dismiss these nuisance suits with prejudice escapes me.

~~~

They should be. It’s the goliaths using the courts to terrorize the davids (yes, I’m using the analogy wrong since david won). They have lots of money and lawyers and figure they can beat the little businesses into submission by forcing them to have to defend themselves. The courts really should be taking the predatory nature of the size/means difference into account when deciding whether to even hear a case.

[NorthMountain]

Eons ago, General Motors introduced a car called the "Chevrolet Beretta".

Beretta (the Italian gun company) sued.

The judge tossed the suit, on the grounds that anyone who can't distinguish a shotgun from a car has no business using either.

[Rockingham]

These kinds of disputes are common when a commercial name brand becomes valuable and prominent through expansion. As it happens, trademark law more or less forces an aggressive legal posture or the value of the expanding name brand is undermined and sometimes lost by exceptions being tolerated.

For example, what if the small Beaver's Mini Mart decides to create a chain of large size Beaver's Mega Marts with a similar size, format, and logo to that of Buc-ee's? Buc-ee's could sue, but their case would be complicated by their prior toleration of Beaver's name, logo, and operation of smaller format gas and go markets.

To prevent that risk, Buc-ee's best strategy is to sue now. The usual practice is to then agree to a settlement that restricts the smaller operation from ever infringing Buc-ee's trademark. That way, if the small operator ever goes rogue, Buc-ee's can go to court and sue to enforce the terms of the settlement agreement.