Editor’s note: While initial planning documents suggested the Fort Pierce store could become the world’s largest Buc-ee’s based on reported square footage, the company has clarified that measurement variances mean the Luling, Texas, location retains that title.
FORT PIERCE – Buc-ee’s plans to open a new convenience store in Fort Pierce in 2027.
The Texas-based chain is known for its travel centers, clean restrooms, affordable gas, and snacks like beef jerky, fudge, and brisket sandwiches. The new store will be at Interstate 95 and Indrio Road, northwest of Fort Pierce and southwest of Vero Beach.
The planned Buc-ee’s in Fort Pierce will feature 120 gas pumps, 18 electric vehicle charging stations, and more than 700 parking spaces to serve drivers on one of Florida’s busiest highways.
If built as planned, initial plans indicate it could be larger than the Luling, Texas, store (which opened in 2024 with 75,593 square feet), with the new Fort Pierce store expected to have 76,245 square feet of retail space. However, Buc-ee’s has clarified that due to variances in how local planning departments measure building footprints, Luling remains their largest location.
“Contrary to recent reporting that the proposed project in St. Lucie, FL will be our largest store, Luling Texas is, and will remain, the largest Buc-ee’s Travel Center in our fleet! Planning departments throughout the country have different parameters for reporting building sizes in official planning documents. This is an example of that confusion. What remains consistent will always be our clean restrooms, friendly staff, and great brisket sandwiches,” said Stan Beard of Buc-ee’s.
Buc-ee’s has been growing quickly outside Texas. This will be its fourth Florida location, after stores in St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, and Ocala. The company resubmitted site plans and a building permit to St. Lucie County in November, after the state approved the project in April.
Final approval for the Buc-ee’s project is still pending. This includes obtaining confirmation from utility providers for items such as a grease trap. Local officials believe the project will help St. Lucie County’s economy by attracting tourists and creating jobs, but they have not yet shared specific numbers for jobs or revenue.
A site plan approval is expected by the end of 2025. Construction should take 18 to 24 months, so the store will likely open in late 2027 or early 2028. Billboards advertising the new store began appearing near the site in late September, boosting local excitement.
Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982 and now has more than 40 locations across the South. The company focuses on customer service and sells more than just convenience items, including home decor, clothing, and grilling supplies.
