Buc-ee’s beloved snacks and pristine bathrooms are now closer to Nashville than ever. The newest Kentucky location had its grand opening on Monday, drawing crowds of hundreds of loyal fans and curious roadtrippers.
Nashvillians eager to get their hands on Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets, brisket, beef jerky and cheap gas can make the short, one hour drive to Smiths Grove, the smallest town to be home to the cult-following gas station.
“This new facility will have a significant impact on Warren County, and we are so grateful they have chosen our community for their newest location,” said Warren County Government in a social media post.
Guests were welcomed with inflatables, sparkling rows of gas pumps, a beaver mascot, and shelf after shelf stocked with Buc-ee’s merchandise. Inside the store were chefs sporting cowboy hats serving sliced, warm brisket while chanting, “Fresh brisket on the board!”
At the helm of the barbecue stand was Buc-ee’s head pitmaster Randy Pauly. Pauly, who is based in the Houston area, traveled to Smiths Grove for two days to lead new staff in meeting company standards.
“We are constantly looking at the quality because it is the details that matter,” Pauly told the Courier Journal. “The details that are going to make that chopped brisket taco or brisket sandwich the absolute best, and that’s what we are chasing because our guests deserve it.”
Here’s what else to know about the newest Kentucky location.
What time is the Smiths Grove Buc-ee’s store open?
Like all other Buc-ee’s locations, the Smiths Grove store is now open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Breakfast is served from 4:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. before the store transitions from breakfast to lunch. As previously reported by the Courier Journal, the Smiths Grove location measures at just over 53,000 square feet and is staffed with over 200 employees. According to their website, there are still open positions available.
More:What’s so great about Buc-ee’s? Fans love the food, gas pumps, mascot, sparkling bathrooms
Where is the Smiths Grove Buc-ee’s store located?
Kentucky’s newest store is located off Interstate 65 between Louisville and Nashville, at 4001 Smiths Grove-Scottsville Road.
How many Buc-ee’s are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee is currently home to only two Buc-ee’s locations, Crossville and Sevierville. The Crossville location is located about 112 miles from Nashville while the Sevierville is located about about 200 miles from Nashville.
In 2021, a third location was proposed in Murfreesboro. The Murfreesboro location would be located off Interstate 24 and Joe B. Jackson Parkway, making it the closest store to Nashville.
Reporter Leo Bertucci contributed to this story.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
