Be warned, it will be really busy! But really great!
Bring a good attitude and some patience, and please just pay attention while driving. If you're someone that doesn't want to deal with the traffic, large groups of people in mass, and hype of a grand opening I would wait to go. Normally I would fall into that description actually, and I usually wait until new places level off and calm down, but I had some spare time and patience to spare, plus the curiosity to check out the madness of a new Buc-ee's intrigued me.
The new Buc-ee's location just opened up in Goodyear on 6/22 to the general public, first one in Arizona! Woo hoo for that. I've been to locations in Texas and Colorado. This will definitely be where I stop on road trips to Cali, well once the hype dies down and it's not a major effort to go.
I didn't plan to check it out so soon, I went on Tuesday 6/23, day after the grand opening. It just worked out that I had some time to kill. And time you will need. I left my house near Mesa Riverview around 11am, and I didn't get home until close to 3 pm. The map said it would take 25 minutes to get there (that's non traffic mind you), but be warned the map isn't accounting for the city's traffic control plan. Right now the only "correct" way to access it, is exit from the 10 fwy to Bullard and you'll have to follow the route they have placed that takes you all the way down to the ball park and circles you around, back up Bullard Ave. it's definitely out of the way and meant to spread out the flow of cars. All traffic is blocked from any other directions. And I heard it was really bad opening day. Was a bit better day 2 during the time I was there.
And I messed it up by exiting before Bullard, on Litchfield Rd and trying to go over. It didn't work, so I had to get on the correct route and circle around twice. I didn't know ahead of time about the street closures. So really, for me, the most time and effort it took was simply getting there. Thank god I was in the AC car, it was hot outside!
Once I was in the parking lot it got much better and I could start to enjoy the experience. I pulled up to an open gas pump immediately, I mean there's so many of them! Then I parked in the massive lot, and walked right in. Once inside it was a bit of chaos again with so many people who clearly were having their first Buc-ee's experience trying to navigate it all. And there were large groups of people. It was like being at a busy amusement park or concert but with lots of beavers. I spent the majority of my time just leisurely watching people and checking out the items. I was in no rush since I had put in the effort to go. I chatted with staff working who were all very nice, given how busy it was, and they said yesterday was a literal madhouse. Glad I skipped that!
One thing I observed is that lines forming but unclear if it was moving or needed. So just check before you cue up if something makes sense to stand in line. There was a wrap around line for the brisket counter that didn't really move because it wasn't a line up situation, people could walk up and grab a sandwich, but others were standing there waiting for certain items.
**Recent update: looks like the store did clearly indicate a line up area around the brisket counter with a blue roped off area, so now it might be more organized and clear where to stand, line up, and get items from. I saw this in someone's video so I'm not sure how long it will be set up like that, but it looked helpful.
Staff were friendly and the other customers there were mostly nice that I encountered. Some looked down right stressed. Others had no clue what was happening and deer in the headlights look lol. I enjoyed my time there, and found plenty of pockets of space. I also got myself another shirt, as I do when visiting Buc-ee's.
For me, I was solo and I could move around the store pretty easily. So I did that. Checked out all the food sections, the bathroom (of course!), and the merch areas. I tried new things I haven't had before that are popular like the beaver nuggets, turkey club sando, and brisket Mac. What I will say about Buc-ee's food is that some stuff I really like and others items are meh, but it's definitely better than any other gas station out there and priced well. I really liked the turkey sandwich, better than I expected. It's the kind of junk food I'm just having every once in a while so I could go wild, which I did, to bring home! :) I also really liked the cheesesteak burrito but only after I took it home and heated in toaster oven to crisp it up, wouldn't have been as good there because it was too soft and cooled down.
Honestly, I say this about every Buc-ee's I've reviewed... on paper I should hate this place but somehow I don't hate it. I wouldn't want to come here regularly but it's a fun place to visit when you're passing by one and to experience.
If you go check it out, I hope you have a good trip and peep the tips I shared. read more