Buc-ee's

RockChalkSTL · Jan 12, 2022#12022-01-12T20:29+00:00

Only kind of related.

Buc-ee's is opening their first Missouri location in Springfield.

Is it only a matter of time before they break into the St. Louis market?

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JaneJacobsGhost · Jan 12, 2022#22022-01-12T21:23+00:00

KansasCitian wrote: ↑
Jan 12, 2022
Only kind of related.

Buc-ee's is opening their first Missouri location in Springfield.

Is it only a matter of time before they break into the St. Louis market?

Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk

Can’t wait to see it on Chouteau

urban_dilettante · Jan 12, 2022#32022-01-12T23:20+00:00

^ hopefully Buc-ee's and QuickTrip will get into a turf war and just level the entire city. it's what people want! clean bathrooms and hot dogs on rollers!

dweebe · Jan 12, 2022#42022-01-12T23:41+00:00

KansasCitian wrote: ↑
Jan 12, 2022
Only kind of related.

Buc-ee's is opening their first Missouri location in Springfield.

Is it only a matter of time before they break into the St. Louis market?

Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk

A Texas friend said the rumor was an Illinois location. Either Troy or somewhere along 64 by Scott AFB.

sc4mayor · Jan 13, 2022#52022-01-13T02:24+00:00

One of my biggest customers does private label products for Bucee’s. The idea that they’d level the entire city for gas stations is as dumb as it sounds. And yes, I know that’s hyperbole…still it’s as dumb as it sounds.

urban_dilettante · Jan 13, 2022#62022-01-13T05:23+00:00

^ i have no idea what "does private label products for Bucee’s" means or what that has to do with their expansion plans, but the point is: how many gas stations is enough? we've already got QT tearing sh*t down left and right. do we really need more car dependence? more pollution? more driving? more wrecks? more pedestrian hell? competing gas station chains sh*tting football-field sized concrete wastelands across the street from each other all over the region? jfc.

sc4mayor · Jan 13, 2022#72022-01-13T05:31+00:00

Considering it’s a rumor for one gas station potentially by SAFB, I’m not concerned about it. There are more important things in my life than a potential gas station in a fuc*ing cornfield.

Couldn’t care less about the giant one in the industrial park in Fenton either. I think it’s a Wally’s tho. Surrounded by nothing but truck stops and gigantic warehouses that replaced the old Chrysler plant. I’d rather see that built down there than in Clayton or the CWE or downtown.

urban_dilettante · Jan 13, 2022#82022-01-13T05:39+00:00

well good on you for not caring. enjoy your plentiful gas stations.

sc4mayor · Jan 13, 2022#92022-01-13T05:42+00:00

I’m all for banning them in the city. Hence the reason I’d rather see these large ones built in existing industrial parks (where the truck traffic is haha) in Fenton or the Metro East. Though I understand nuance isn’t a strong suit around here.

urban_dilettante · Jan 13, 2022#102022-01-13T05:53+00:00

yeah, nuance... good luck banning gas stations in the city while the region doubles down on car culture. (you should prepare yourself for more gas stations in the city.)

RockChalkSTL · Jan 13, 2022#112022-01-13T12:36+00:00

There should be a moratorium on new gas stations in the city UNLESS the new station replaces an existing station. I've been wanting that for a long time.

But honestly, count me among those that aren't too upset about gas stations being built thirty or more minutes outside the region's urban core.

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pattimagee · Jan 13, 2022#122022-01-13T15:18+00:00

I don't think we should ban them, I think we should just require a specific type of build for any new gas stations... or even for any new construction on existing stations so these stations don't become eyesores.

- The main build needs to be on the building line // street wall. Pumps at the rear.
- All Stations are required to have some restaurant offering and x seating per SF. (KC does this well)
- Landscaped walls where there is no buildings, and entry/exits minimized.
- (solar panels req, runoff requirement, etc)

vpr611 · Jan 13, 2022#132022-01-13T15:23+00:00

There is no reason to think that Buc-ee's will compete directly with QT, especially in a dense urban core. Sadly QT will continue their reign of destruction in the urban center, while Buc-ee's will likely consume more strategic locations alongside major highways.

The way I see it, as long as it has a long-term EV plan, I think these will be beneficial to the region on the outskirts of St. Louis. Something as large as Buc-ee's could provide someone the opportunity to do a little bit more than a standard QT when recharging for 20-30 minutes.

dweebe · Jan 13, 2022#142022-01-13T16:05+00:00

vpr611 wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
There is no reason to think that Buc-ee's will compete directly with QT, especially in a dense urban core. Sadly QT will continue their reign of destruction in the urban center, while Buc-ee's will likely consume more strategic locations alongside major highways.

The way I see it, as long as it has a long-term EV plan, I think these will be beneficial to the region on the outskirts of St. Louis. Something as large as Buc-ee's could provide someone the opportunity to do a little bit more than a standard QT when recharging for 20-30 minutes.

I've only been to Buc-ees twice: but I don't think they have any electric charging. But IIRC that Wally's in Pontiac Illinois has 4 or 6 standard electric chargers on the side opposite all the gas pumps.

I know QTs are evil and they should all be destroyed, but hopefully they'll get some sort of electric charging in the near future. I almost have to wonder if they're overbuilding some of their lots in anticipation of this need?

vpr611 · Jan 13, 2022#152022-01-13T16:11+00:00

dweebe wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
I know QTs are evil and they should all be destroyed, but hopefully they'll get some sort of electric charging in the near future. I almost have to wonder if they're overbuilding some of their lots in anticipation of this need?

This is a likely scenario, as it typically takes less than 5 minutes for the average car to fill up at the pump now; however an EV will occupy the same spot for upwards of 20-40 minutes. Personally it will take upwards of 10-15 years to fully transition over to EVs so places like QT still play an important role; however we should be encouraging new and existing property owners and developments to include x number of EV charging stations, especially in destination locations where people typically spent 30+ minutes or more. I would even be happy with seeing "some" EV street parking spots downtown.

dweebe · Jan 13, 2022#162022-01-13T16:48+00:00

vpr611 wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
dweebe wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
I know QTs are evil and they should all be destroyed, but hopefully they'll get some sort of electric charging in the near future. I almost have to wonder if they're overbuilding some of their lots in anticipation of this need?
This is a likely scenario, as it typically takes less than 5 minutes for the average car to fill up at the pump now; however an EV will occupy the same spot for upwards of 20-40 minutes. Personally it will take upwards of 10-15 years to fully transition over to EVs so places like QT still play an important role; however we should be encouraging new and existing property owners and developments to include x number of EV charging stations, especially in destination locations where people typically spent 30+ minutes or more. I would even be happy with seeing "some" EV street parking spots downtown.

There are the ones by the Soldier's Memorial. But one parking spot always has their electric security vehicle and the other 3 spots are almost always ICE'd.

symphonicpoet · Jan 13, 2022#172022-01-13T23:26+00:00

vpr611 wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
dweebe wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
I know QTs are evil and they should all be destroyed, but hopefully they'll get some sort of electric charging in the near future. I almost have to wonder if they're overbuilding some of their lots in anticipation of this need?
This is a likely scenario, as it typically takes less than 5 minutes for the average car to fill up at the pump now; however an EV will occupy the same spot for upwards of 20-40 minutes. Personally it will take upwards of 10-15 years to fully transition over to EVs so places like QT still play an important role; however we should be encouraging new and existing property owners and developments to include x number of EV charging stations, especially in destination locations where people typically spent 30+ minutes or more. I would even be happy with seeing "some" EV street parking spots downtown.

I'm inclined to think EV charging will break the connection between vehicles and convenience stores. They're just so simple to install in any old parking lot, and every retailer will realize that. There are charging stations in grocery store and mall parking lots already. Streetside charging stations are a great idea. Might make paying for parking a bit less painful. But what does all this have to do with the Fenton Logistics Park?

dweebe · Jan 13, 2022#182022-01-13T23:53+00:00

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
vpr611 wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
dweebe wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
I know QTs are evil and they should all be destroyed, but hopefully they'll get some sort of electric charging in the near future. I almost have to wonder if they're overbuilding some of their lots in anticipation of this need?
This is a likely scenario, as it typically takes less than 5 minutes for the average car to fill up at the pump now; however an EV will occupy the same spot for upwards of 20-40 minutes. Personally it will take upwards of 10-15 years to fully transition over to EVs so places like QT still play an important role; however we should be encouraging new and existing property owners and developments to include x number of EV charging stations, especially in destination locations where people typically spent 30+ minutes or more. I would even be happy with seeing "some" EV street parking spots downtown.
I'm inclined to think EV charging will break the connection between vehicles and convenience stores. They're just so simple to install in any old parking lot, and every retailer will realize that. There are charging stations in grocery store and mall parking lots already. Streetside charging stations are a great idea. Might make paying for parking a bit less painful. But what does all this have to do with the Fenton Logistics Park?

Nothing. Sorry to piss you off with a tangent.

symphonicpoet · Jan 14, 2022#192022-01-14T00:54+00:00

dweebe wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
symphonicpoet wrote: ↑
Jan 13, 2022
I'm inclined to think EV charging will break the connection between vehicles and convenience stores. They're just so simple to install in any old parking lot, and every retailer will realize that. There are charging stations in grocery store and mall parking lots already. Streetside charging stations are a great idea. Might make paying for parking a bit less painful. But what does all this have to do with the Fenton Logistics Park?
Nothing. Sorry to piss you off with a tangent.

Not pissed off at all. It's a great subject. Just wondering if this should be in a different thread. Sorry if I seemed angry.

kipfilet · Jan 14, 2022#202022-01-14T19:17+00:00

As an EV owner, there is still a huge dearth of public charging spots. And often the costs are astronomical. Given the current state of infrastructure, I can only recommend an EV if you are able to consistently and safely charge it at home, impossible to rely on public charging stations (at least in St. Louis).

symphonicpoet · Jan 15, 2022#212022-01-15T00:50+00:00

^I suspect that's true in most of the Midwest. There's a few public ones in Columbia at a supermarket, but most of the public spaces I've seen were in Europe, where every mall and civic parking garage seems to have a few. I'm just guessing that as EVs become more common here that commercial property owners here will come to the same conclusion. Technology Connections has a nice episode on what's actually involved in making a charging station, and it's really not much; basically a mains power connection, a little metering, some basic logic, and a fancy connector. (One presumes that you can charge faster off a higher amp circuit and or 240 volts, but if you're not in a hurry the requirements shouldn't be particularly special. It's just a standard LiPo battery, after all.) It appears as though the costs are only high because it's a captive market. (Kind of a cheap printer, expensive ink cartridge problem.) Anyway, I'm just guessing that shopping centers will figure out that they can be the "gas stations" of the electric car world, since they have the parking spaces already. And they have enough power in their lots already to at least get started. (Basically the tanks.) So for the cost of installing a half dozen charging stations they can capture some business. Even if those stations are ten grand a piece they'd probably still be more than worth it. I expect every shopping center of any size spends more on advertising. Of course . . . this only works when there's a high enough density of EV drivers that you know the demand will be there. So I don't mean to say it's like that now, just that I think it will eventually be. And that places like QT probably won't be able to compete. Who wants to stay in a QT for an hour waiting for the battery to tank up when you could do the same at a place where you can actually get work done or have genuine fun? (Or both.) Convenience stores will still serve a purpose, but I bet they'll basically lose the giant parking lots along with their tanks and pumps. They'll turn into corner stores.

dredger · Jan 15, 2022#222022-01-15T01:15+00:00

To swing this back around to Buc ee's and convenience stores. I assume it will only make sense with the EV fast charge? What is that 10-15 minutes?

Can't speak for Buc ee's as I have past plenty of them in my travels but never stopped but assume that convenience/gas stores w EV charging stations going forward will also need to transition to some sort of sit down space inside as well? Kinda like a mini coffee shop. So i can see Starbuck's, Pete's Coffee and the likes hooking up w a national or regional brand like Buc ee's & Quick Trip as space evolves into Gas/EV/Convenience/Coffee shop. Which is all about having the right and enough real estate in right spot.

Buc-ee's

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