Buc-ee's, the Texas-based travel center chain with a cult following for its spotless restrooms and expansive retail offerings, is setting up shop in West Tennessee. Plans for the new 28-acre location are underway at I-40 at Exit 28 in Gallaway, Fayette County – a quick 40-minute drive from Memphis, as State Sen. Page Walley excitedly announced on social media.

The addition of Buc-ee’s is expected to have a substantial economic impact with starting wages of $17 to $19 per hour, plus benefits for their employees. The travel center, known for its wide array of merchandise from snacks to clothing, will provide jobs for 175 to 250 full-time workers, a boon for the local job market, according to Local Memphis. However, Walley's post did not specify when the popular superstore is expected to open its doors.

With only two locations in Tennessee, both in the eastern portion of the state, the expansion into West Tennessee represents a significant milestone for Buc-ee's. The travel centers are magnets for significant traffic, pulling in, on average, 4,000 to 8,000 cars per day, with roughly 80% of visitors hailing from outside the county and half coming from beyond state lines. According to company estimates, these stores contribute more than $50,000,000 in gross taxable sales annually, a figure inviting optimistic speculation about the financial benefits for the local economy, Local Memphis reported.