Iowa Mayor Starts Petition To Bring State’s First Buc-ee’s To His Town

They say you'll never know if you never ask.

Out of all the ways a mayor can leave their mark on the town, this may be one of the most important. It's been a question for years: when will Iowa get a Buc-ee's?

The Texas-based chain is expanding north, including a location along I-94 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

Yay Brisket: It's Official, Popular Buc-ee's Is Coming To Wisconsin

The thing you have to remember with Buc-ee's compared to the Midwest's beloved gas stations is that Buc-ee's is an experience. It's just a different ballgame. It is a Walmart-sized store with bathroom attendants, quality brisket, and roasted nuts. You don't just stop at a Buc-ee's, it's the destination.

That's probably why, according to the Des Moines Register, Norwalk mayor Tom Phillips has started a petition on change.org to get Buc-ee's first Iowa location.

The city called getting a Buc-ee's a "transformative project" that could help drive tourism and economic development for both interstate travelers and locals. On the flipside, Norwalk said they can offer Buc-ee's "ideal access, high visibility, and strong infrastructure".

Here's the 'Bring a Buc-ee's to Norwalk, Iowa' change.org petition if you want to sign it.

In a news release, Mayor Phillips said:

I’ve seen our community grow, thrive, and dream big — but now it’s time to dream even bigger. Picture this: you’re cruising along I-35, and just off the exit, you’re welcomed not only by our hometownpride, but by the legendary beaver of Buc-ee’s.

If you think Buc-ee's is wildly overrated and you don't understand the craze, visit one. You will spend a lot of time in there and not realize it.

The closest Buc-ee's to Des Moines is the one in Springfield, Missouri (incidentally the one I've been to). They have multiple locations in Texas and are opening more stores across the country.