This reminds me of what Andres Duany would often say, about how cities should more carefully and thoughtfully curate and manage their main pedestrian streets and areas.
Also, for a gas station, Buc-ees is doing better than most. As far as I can tell, they're geared toward the road trip crowd, and while they are a business, they're like a better evolution of the rest stop. I know they have some fancy rest stops in NJ, but down south, most offer restrooms of dubious quality and a vending machine (maybe). It's a real missed opportunity and Buc-ees is filling the role nicely.
Interesting choice of anecdote, but I actually have to agree. In many ways, I think this is what I--and many others--key into when visiting Japan. The public restrooms there are immaculate by US standards and so are the restrooms at Buc-ees. Smaller towns/cities I think could get to a Buc-ees level, but larger places need a Herculean investment to get and keep them at those standards, but wouldn't it be grand.
I think the main thing for towns or cities is to get their most important streets and areas to "a Buc-ees level". The main, walkable, pedestrian areas. The "A-grid" stuff, as Andres Duany would call it.
I’ve been to Buc-ees,and it’s awesome. I’ve been going to their Lulling travel center for 20 years. It still looks new because they keep it up and have expanded it. They take good care of their employees and offer benefits. They simply started doing a mundane business like it mattered to do it well, and it’s blown up into a huge success. Their competition is either a bad experience or a higher priced, less well done copy. You don’t know it until you experience Buc-ees. I would actually prefer a smaller, family sized business if it were even close to as clean and offered anything like the better choices of snacks. They don’t seem to exist, and I don’t know why. So, I go by most every time I travel back and forth between Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. What I don’t get is the idea that it’s a bad investment for the public. I’m unaware of them getting public investment. I’m not for that.
When I saw the title of this video, I thought, "WHAT?!?!" But what you said makes sense. I'm going to share this video with my family. This includes with my daughter who lives in Texas, is very artistic and aware of spaces around her, and who loves Buc-ee's. 😊
Buc-ees highly disturbed me initially but after visiting it a few times it's hard not to appreciate it on a certain level. And it's not like they are putting them in the middle of downtowns, most of them are in the middle of nowhere
To me as a minnesotan like you buc-ees is like our quick trip gas stations but on steroids. Stopped by buc-ees last spring while in Alabama it was really clean , the bathrooms were spotless. The brisket sandwich is world class. I’ll be back buc-ees
As a person who has a buc-ee's I would actually say they pay pretty decent, and I hear that they're pretty good with their workers at least from those work there.
I kinda like chucks ironic side, and i can agree it is a good experience and something texans are actually proud of. It is something that will be in a museum one day in the distance future as an emblem of our culture at the time
It's true. I went to new Buc-ees once in southern Kentucky and I don't remember there being an interstate nearby. Packed parking lot. The individual elements don't make sense, but the totality and MIX of it is ridiculous. Take a large gas station like a QuikTrip or Pilot and triple it in size, and inside it starts to get a Costco vibe, albeit with the jerky bar, the pulled pork and brisket station, the fudge counters (fudge, tortillas, all sorts of things made in the center of the store), the token clothing and gadgets. And after you pull yourself away from the crowded food-based counters, you see _ young people on dates_ looking to be seen and _families_ just walking around, standing around as if it's the place to be. All still with the decor of a boring convenience store. What?? Is this what happens when the malls dissapear? I spent $95 dollars that day on brisket, fudge, and some beer. No gasoline. The checkout counters are heavily staffed and you're treated as "members." They're not playing.
Good point Chuck Still not a fan of buc-ees 😂 But I see what you mean Probably better examples if you’re talking about place making and caring around how humans experience place. Outside of a buc-ees is usually awful.
In regards to them caring about the human experience it is only the experience of customers if you are an employee that treat you like absolute garbage. You are just to be used up and replaced. I have never seen such an awful place to work. I will not give my money to a place that treats people like shit.
I’ve never been to buc ees but I have heard about it. It sounds like a near pinnacle of one stop shop and highway living. There’s really nothing wrong with a business providing a service where it’s needed.
Chuck, you can like something. Not agree with everything. Yes, it's kind of funny when you're talking about urbanism and then you bring in the buc-ee's. It is ironic yes. I'm not fan of alcohol but still occasionally support my local breweries, I also enjoy the craft more than actually drink.
Classic. This is what I love so much about the way Chuck thinks about things. Some irony for sure, but always looking at things from a very alt angle. Every time I see this kind of commentary, I immediately try and figure his angle on things. I definitely did not see this coming, but he's exactly right.
You do you, man! You've mentioned that you are Catholic, and therefore, I suspect you may not know much about the Lutheran Refromation. I think you and Martin Luther have a lot in common, and I think you would have a lot of fun learning about him. The world has already changed because of your effort.
This reminds me of what Andres Duany would often say, about how cities should more carefully and thoughtfully curate and manage their main pedestrian streets and areas.
Also, for a gas station, Buc-ees is doing better than most. As far as I can tell, they're geared toward the road trip crowd, and while they are a business, they're like a better evolution of the rest stop. I know they have some fancy rest stops in NJ, but down south, most offer restrooms of dubious quality and a vending machine (maybe). It's a real missed opportunity and Buc-ees is filling the role nicely.
Interesting choice of anecdote, but I actually have to agree. In many ways, I think this is what I--and many others--key into when visiting Japan. The public restrooms there are immaculate by US standards and so are the restrooms at Buc-ees. Smaller towns/cities I think could get to a Buc-ees level, but larger places need a Herculean investment to get and keep them at those standards, but wouldn't it be grand.
I think the main thing for towns or cities is to get their most important streets and areas to "a Buc-ees level". The main, walkable, pedestrian areas. The "A-grid" stuff, as Andres Duany would call it.
100%! There's a human dignity to the standard of public space in Japan, and it's also evident in their Lawson's and 7Elevens.
Ok that’s a great phrase I’m going to keep in mind, which is a great way of explaining some things I didn’t have a common framework for.
I’ve been to Buc-ees,and it’s awesome. I’ve been going to their Lulling travel center for 20 years. It still looks new because they keep it up and have expanded it. They take good care of their employees and offer benefits. They simply started doing a mundane business like it mattered to do it well, and it’s blown up into a huge success. Their competition is either a bad experience or a higher priced, less well done copy. You don’t know it until you experience Buc-ees.
I would actually prefer a smaller, family sized business if it were even close to as clean and offered anything like the better choices of snacks. They don’t seem to exist, and I don’t know why. So, I go by most every time I travel back and forth between Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.
What I don’t get is the idea that it’s a bad investment for the public. I’m unaware of them getting public investment. I’m not for that.
Youll never take away my kwik trip Minnesotian!
Chuck has a Minnesotan affinity for the Buc-ee’s mascot, which could be an otter or a gopher. That’s what he loves most about Buc-ee’s.
While it can be challenging to introduce you and your perspectives to others since you don’t fit into a box, I really appreciate the results!
When I saw the title of this video, I thought, "WHAT?!?!" But what you said makes sense.
I'm going to share this video with my family. This includes with my daughter who lives in Texas, is very artistic and aware of spaces around her, and who loves Buc-ee's. 😊
Buc-ees highly disturbed me initially but after visiting it a few times it's hard not to appreciate it on a certain level. And it's not like they are putting them in the middle of downtowns, most of them are in the middle of nowhere
To me as a minnesotan like you buc-ees is like our quick trip gas stations but on steroids. Stopped by buc-ees last spring while in Alabama it was really clean , the bathrooms were spotless. The brisket sandwich is world class. I’ll be back buc-ees
As a person who has a buc-ee's I would actually say they pay pretty decent, and I hear that they're pretty good with their workers at least from those work there.
I actually live close enough to walk to a Buc-ee’s. Love me some Buc-ee’s 👍
I kinda like chucks ironic side, and i can agree it is a good experience and something texans are actually proud of. It is something that will be in a museum one day in the distance future as an emblem of our culture at the time
It's true. I went to new Buc-ees once in southern Kentucky and I don't remember there being an interstate nearby. Packed parking lot. The individual elements don't make sense, but the totality and MIX of it is ridiculous. Take a large gas station like a QuikTrip or Pilot and triple it in size, and inside it starts to get a Costco vibe, albeit with the jerky bar, the pulled pork and brisket station, the fudge counters (fudge, tortillas, all sorts of things made in the center of the store), the token clothing and gadgets.
And after you pull yourself away from the crowded food-based counters, you see _ young people on dates_ looking to be seen and _families_ just walking around, standing around as if it's the place to be. All still with the decor of a boring convenience store. What?? Is this what happens when the malls dissapear?
I spent $95 dollars that day on brisket, fudge, and some beer. No gasoline. The checkout counters are heavily staffed and you're treated as "members." They're not playing.
Good point Chuck
Still not a fan of buc-ees 😂
But I see what you mean
Probably better examples if you’re talking about place making and caring around how humans experience place. Outside of a buc-ees is usually awful.
In regards to them caring about the human experience it is only the experience of customers if you are an employee that treat you like absolute garbage. You are just to be used up and replaced. I have never seen such an awful place to work. I will not give my money to a place that treats people like shit.
How do gas prices compare to nearby Costco.
I’ve never been to buc ees but I have heard about it. It sounds like a near pinnacle of one stop shop and highway living. There’s really nothing wrong with a business providing a service where it’s needed.
Chuck, you can like something. Not agree with everything. Yes, it's kind of funny when you're talking about urbanism and then you bring in the buc-ee's.
It is ironic yes. I'm not fan of alcohol but still occasionally support my local breweries, I also enjoy the craft more than actually drink.
Classic. This is what I love so much about the way Chuck thinks about things. Some irony for sure, but always looking at things from a very alt angle. Every time I see this kind of commentary, I immediately try and figure his angle on things. I definitely did not see this coming, but he's exactly right.
Yep... stuff I see around my community has me thinking "I wonder what Chuck would make of this?"
You do you, man! You've mentioned that you are Catholic, and therefore, I suspect you may not know much about the Lutheran Refromation. I think you and Martin Luther have a lot in common, and I think you would have a lot of fun learning about him. The world has already changed because of your effort.