The westernmost Buc-ee’s in the U.S. is scheduled to open in Goodyear on Monday, June 22. The long-awaited opening is expected to bring big crowds and lots of traffic to the location just south of Interstate 10 and Bullard Avenue.
The cult-favorite gas station — that also serves BBQ and houses shelves upon shelves of merchandise — is expected to draw visitors even from outside of Arizona. According to a company press release, the station occupies 74,000 square feet.
Goodyear officials say to be prepared for long lines and longer waits on opening day. Buc-ee’s traffic will be funneled down from I-10 to a specific 6.5-mile route through Bullard Avenue and near Goodyear Ballpark.
In addition to traffic backups, Bullard Avenue between McDowell Road and I-10 as well as the eastbound I-10 ramp at Estrella Parkway will be closed.
Officials also advise visitors to be cautious in the Arizona heat. The city’s dedicated Buc-ee’s page includes suggestions on hydration and for out-of-state patrons.
The store is scheduled to open at 6 a.m., with an 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. The parking lot is slated to open at midnight.
"We could not have picked a better location for our first store in the Grand Canyon state. Perfectly placed for our road-trippers headed out to California or coming in for the destination-rich Phoenix area, Goodyear will be the place to stop," said Stan Beard of Buc-ee's.
In a social media post, Goodyear police Lt. Sean Tyler says staff will be dealing with traffic on city streets.
“We’ll also have our traffic engineers monitoring all the lights throughout the entire city to make sure all of our traffic is flowing as efficiently as possible," he said.
Staff will also use traffic cameras for monitoring.
Goodyear Fire Department’s Ruben Real says it's important for those traveling to the event to stay hydrated.
“So, make sure you have enough water in your car in case you have long stays in there, as well as when you get out, the shade's gonna be very limited. So, make sure you have those clothing that's gonna protect you from the sun — hats, sunblock, all that kind of thing," he said.
The city anticipates opening day to draw people from both Arizona and neighboring states.
Buc-ee's claims multiple world records on its website including the world’s largest convenience store at nearly 76,000 square feet in Luling, Texas, a thousand miles away on Interstate 10.
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