SMITHS GROVE, Ky. — The home of the world's friendliest beaver is opening a new location in the commonwealth.
Buc-ee's, the beloved travel center chain known for its fresh food, clean bathrooms and beaver mascot, will open its second Kentucky location June 24 in Smiths Grove, just north of Bowling Green. Doors will open at 6 a.m. CDT before a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon.
The chain has one other Kentucky location in Richmond, which opened in April 2022. Smiths Grove will be the country's smallest city with a Buc-ee's.
The Smith's Grove center, located at 4001 Smiths Grove-Scottsville Road, will occupy 53,000 square feet and offer store favorites such as Texas barbeque, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries. There will also be 120 fueling positions.
Among those attending the ceremony include Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky.; U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. and Smiths Grove Mayor David Stiffey, according to a release.
Once the Smiths Grove store is open, Buc-ee's will have more than 50 stores across Texas and the South. Along with Kentucky, it has also opened stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and Colorado since beginning its multi-state expansion in 2019 and broke ground on its first Virginia and Mississippi locations earlier this year.
“We are so excited to celebrate the grand opening of our latest travel center on this beautiful stretch of I-65 between Nashville and Louisville,” said Stan Beard, Buc-ee’s director of real estate. "Smiths Grove may be small, but the community has welcomed us with as much love and enthusiasm as our largest cities, so we’re excited to be here and watch this partnership grow.”
A spokesperson for the store said it expects to bring at least 200 jobs to the area. Employees can expect starting pay well above minimum wage, full benefits, a 6% matching 401(k) and three weeks of paid vacation.
Buc-ee's was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Texas, where it has 35 stores.
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