I wouldn't, it's still just a gas station.
Mega Mart coming to Des Moines area
- Thread starter dafarmer
- Start date
I wouldn't, it's still just a gas station.
I bet a DSM area Buccees happens in the next 3 years.
I read somewhere that there is not enough land available to purchase to build one and have the fuel tanks close by to bring the fuel in. Buc-ee's does not allow semi to stop and park at their stores, and all the fuel is delivered off site and then pump down to the station. If Omaha is getting one, I would hope Des Moines area will be on the list for one by the end of the decade.
On the Bus-ees website they have the stores they are expanding too out to 2028, it does list the Omaha store. If they can find the space, it would be easy for them to supply the stores in Omaha, Des Moines and then KC.
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I heard the Norwalk Mayor on a podcast campaigning for a Buc-ees, but he admitted he'd never been to one or didn't really know much about it. It was kinda weird . . .
To be honest many of the Kum & Go stores in Cedar Rapids already were.
If Buc'ees needs to go anywhere in Iowa its probably somewhere on I-80 between Iowa City and Davenport. They are already in the process of making that highway 6 lanes due to the traffic. The stretch from Iowa City to West Branch is really nice.
Since Buc'ees doens't serve trucks, they could just build it on the next exit up from the Walcott exit. Traffic at that place would be cut in half overnight.
Since Buc'ees doens't serve trucks, they could just build it on the next exit up from the Walcott exit. Traffic at that place would be cut in half overnight.
I would expect them to build closer to the I80 and I35 interchange to get people traveling both east and west and north and south. Hopefully it will happen in the next 5 years or so.
Bucky's, or however it's spelled, strikes me as an event, in a Walmart white trash manner of speak.
Yuk, to both.
Buc-ee's is nothing like a Walmart, but you have to see one to believe them. They pride themselves on the cleanest bathrooms. They have great brisket sandwiches, fudge and other items. But it is an event the first time you go into one. Unlike Walmart, they pay very good wages for a retail store.
Gretna to Lincoln has a ton of daily traffic and the southwest part of Omaha (Papillion to Gretna) is developing like crazy right now. It's like how Waukee is inching towards Adel
You’re setting a pretty low bar.
Kum n Go pizza blew Casey’s out of the water
Food overall QT and kwik star are much better.
I would say it would rule out 75% . It would have to be right off 80/35, in wdm, Johnson, dsm, ankeny, ... there's already too much in altoona prob.
I always laugh a the debate on which convenience store has the best crappy food.
I've been to one Buc-ees because when visiting my in-laws we "just have to see it." Well, I've seen it. Never again.
Buc-ees is like New Orleans to me. I’m happy I visited once, but no need to go back.
If i’m on a long road trip, my goal is to get where i’m going as fast as possible. No interest in lines for a gas pump, or taking time to browse gas station merchandise.
If i’m on a long road trip, my goal is to get where i’m going as fast as possible. No interest in lines for a gas pump, or taking time to browse gas station merchandise.
How much of that traffic is local? I'm guessing that after ther first few weeks, the locals will rarely visit? I've been to one Buc-ees in taxes, was really impressed, but I saw it more as a Cabela's like place, where most of their business comes from people on long distance trips. I could be totally off.
Edit-Just looked it up.
According to research and municipal estimates for various locations, approximately 80% to 85% of Buc-ee's customers travel from more than 20 to 50 miles away.
I thought some of this was interesting:
Buc-ee’s general counsel has noted that they specifically avoid placing stores inside major metro areas. Their logic is simple: Travelers don't stop immediately after leaving home.
If Buc-ee’s does come to the metro, real estate trends suggest they would avoid the heavy congestion of Urbandale or West Des Moines. Instead, they would likely target:
Buc-ee’s general counsel has noted that they specifically avoid placing stores inside major metro areas. Their logic is simple: Travelers don't stop immediately after leaving home.
2. High-Volume "Peripheral" Corridors
They focus on metropolitan peripheral cities—smaller towns that sit at the junction of major interstates.- Traffic Thresholds: They target corridors with high existing volumes (often 100,000+ vehicles per day) and look for sites that offer maximum visibility, often requiring a 125-foot tall sign to catch travelers miles away.
- Land Requirements: Because their "Mega" stores average 74,000+ square feet with 120 gas pumps, they typically require 25 to 50 acres of flat, developable land right off the exit.
3. Infrastructure Partnerships (The Deal Maker)
Buc-ee’s rarely moves into a site that is "ready." Instead, they act as a catalyst for massive public-private road projects.- Expansion Incentives: They often partner with local jurisdictions to create "Good Life Districts" or similar tax-incentive zones. In Nebraska, for example, they utilized legislation that cuts sales tax in half to offset construction costs.
- Road Upgrades: They frequently fund 50% or more of highway interchange improvements. If a local government can’t or won’t partner on the roadwork, Buc-ee’s will walk away—this is exactly what happened with a stalled site in DeForest, Wisconsin.
4. Jurisdiction "Friendliness"
Beyond traffic, Buc-ee’s looks for:- Business-friendly local government: They prioritize towns that can provide a fast-tracked permitting timeline.
- Workforce availability: They need a local population large enough to provide 200–250 employees per store.
- Absence of immediate competitors: While they aren't afraid of Love’s or Pilot, they prefer "open land space" on the boundaries of a city where they can dominate the exit.
If Buc-ee’s does come to the metro, real estate trends suggest they would avoid the heavy congestion of Urbandale or West Des Moines. Instead, they would likely target:
- The Northern Frontier: Near the I-35/I-80 mixmaster or further north toward Ankeny/Elkhart.
- The Southern Gateway: The Norwalk/Cumming area on I-35, where there is still enough undeveloped land (25–50 acres) to support their massive footprint.
1. The "Gretna" Milestone (I-80)
As of January 21, 2026, Buc-ee’s officially confirmed its first Nebraska location in Gretna (just south of I-80 and Highway 31).- Significance for Des Moines: Buc-ee’s typically expands in "hops" along major interstates. With a site now confirmed 140 miles west on I-80 (Gretna) and another planned for Kansas City, KS (opening 2027), the Des Moines "crossroads" (where I-80 meets I-35) is the most logical next gap for them to fill.
2. The I-80 vs. I-35 Tug-of-War
While travelers often think of I-80 as the primary route, the most aggressive local push is actually coming from the south side of the metro on I-35:- Norwalk’s "Fillmore Interchange": The City of Norwalk is actively pitching a site near a proposed new interchange at Fillmore Street and I-35. They’ve submitted a formal proposal and a petition with over 3,500 signatures to Buc-ee’s corporate.
- The Land Factor: Finding 40+ contiguous acres directly on I-80 near Urbandale or Waukee is difficult and expensive due to existing development. The Norwalk/I-35 area offers more "blank canvas" land, which Buc-ee’s prefers for its massive 74,000-square-foot footprint.
Current Rumor Mill for 2026:
- Waukee/De Soto (I-80): Rumors frequently surface about land near the De Soto exit because it's the "first stop" for eastbound travelers heading into the metro, but no permits have been filed.
- Ankeny/Elkhart (I-35): There is light speculation about the northern I-35 corridor, though Norwalk remains the only city to have made a public, coordinated "raid" for the brand.
