Kansas City, Kansas greenlights first Buc-ee’s in metro area

Buc-ee’s, the wildly popular general gas station, food court, snack bar, gift shop and visitor center, is finally opening location in the Kansas City metro area and this is the first event in Kansas.

The Wyandotte County Unified Government Board of Commissioners Thursday night approved an agreement to build a Buc-ee’s on 20 acres at 601 Village West Parkway, near Kansas Speedway. With approval, the Buc-ees said it will begin construction on the $94.8 million project in May and complete it by 2027.

“This is an easy home run right here,” said Commissioner Phil Lopez, who represents the 6th District. “Buc-ee’s is a really great store, you can get almost anything there – I’m really glad they’re here.”

The board’s approval of a request to rezone the site from agricultural to commercial clears the way for a 74,000-square-foot project that will be one of the largest Buc-ee’s in the country. It will include 120 gas stations, 12 electric vehicle charging stations and the storefront that has made Buc-ee’s a cult favorite among frequent travelers and road trippers.

The Economic Development and Finance Committee on Monday recommended approval of the development agreement, sending it on an expedited basis to the full Board of Commissioners.

“The workforce will primarily come from right here in our backyard,” District 7 Commissioner Chuck Stites said. “Two hundred jobs, good paying jobs.”

Kansas Speedway currently owns the land at 601 Village West Parkway. He has already agreed to sell the land to the Bucs once commissioners give the project the green light.

Wyandotte and Kansas City, Kansas, counties do not currently have a large convenience store like Buc-ee’s, according to application documents.

Buc-ee’s will serve people visiting the Kansas Turnpike and Hollywood Casino, as well as those traveling on Interstates 70 or 435.

Approval of the development also comes with $13.3 million in tax incentives that will cover infrastructure improvements such as water mains, I-70 interchange improvements, electrical relocations and $6.3 million for road replacement on the Village West Parkway.

Wyandotte County would create a community improvement district that would levy a 1% sales tax on purchases made at Buc-ee’s, generating up to $10 million in revenue over 20 years.

He would also take half the city sales tax and a quarter of the county sales tax as part of a tax increment financing district he would establish to reimburse Buc-ee’s for the cost of construction. The financial district will recoup about $3.3 million of those costs over the 15-year term.

There are 50 Buc-ees in 10 states. Location of the first Buc-ee’s in Missouri opened last December.

“I would just like to thank the Bookies for choosing Wyandotte County,” said District 2 Commissioner Bill Burns.