Here’s all you Need to Know About Ohio’s Next Buc-ee
Ohio’s next Buc-ee’s is now firmly pointed toward Mansfield. With local approvals in place, the company is targeting a Q2 2028 ribbon-cutting for what would become the state’s second location and the first Buc-ee’s in Northeast Ohio.
That matters because Buc-ee’s is not just adding another gas stop. The Texas-based chain is planting itself on I-71, one of Ohio’s busiest north-south travel routes connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
What has been approved so far
Mansfield City Council unanimously approved the project’s final development agreement on June 2, 2026, capping a string of approvals that moved through the spring. Earlier steps included initial council approval in March, annexation in May, and a planning commission conditional use permit in late May.
The proposed site covers 37.5 acres near the State Route 39 and I-71 interchange. That puts the store in a strategic spot for regional traffic and long-distance drivers moving across the center of the state.
According to project details presented to city officials, the Mansfield Buc-ee’s is planned as a 74,000-square-foot travel center. It would include 120 fueling positions and 71 restrooms, which is in line with the chain’s oversized highway-stop model.
Why this location matters
The Mansfield project gives Buc-ee’s access to a different slice of Ohio traffic than its first store in Huber Heights. While Huber Heights serves the I-70 corridor near Dayton, Mansfield would capture travelers on I-71, a major route for people driving between the state’s three biggest metro areas.
Founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III has said Buc-ee’s likes locations that stand out on the highway. “I actually love places where there’s not a lot of development. It kind of lets us be a beacon on the highway, if you will,” Aplin told Mansfield officials.
That strategy has worked in Ohio already. Buc-ee’s first Ohio store, at 8000 State Route 235 in Huber Heights, opened April 6, 2026, with 120 fuel pumps, 700 parking spaces, and 200 full-time jobs. Mayor Jeff Gore later said the store topped $1 million in opening-day sales, which was described as the biggest opening in company history.
What comes next before opening day
Buc-ee’s Project Coordinator Angela Janik told Mansfield City Council that the company is aiming for a Q2 2028 opening, meaning sometime from April through June. The company also told officials the project represents about $50 million in capital investment.
The development is expected to bring 175 to 225 full-time jobs, with starting pay at $18 an hour. Janik also said the average Buc-ee’s location serves about 100,000 customers per week and sells 18 million gallons of fuel per year, giving a sense of the traffic Mansfield could see.
Infrastructure work is a major piece of the plan. The project will require three new roundabouts and a new public street, while Buc-ee’s is set to fund an estimated $15 million in water, wastewater, and traffic improvements through a New Community Authority tool.
