Illinois Might Never Get a Buc-ee’s and Honestly That Might Be Fine

People in Wisconsin and Illinois are both foaming at the mouth in hopes of a Buc-ee's coming to town. Maybe it's just me, but I don't get the hype. It's a gas station with a gift shop and plenty of pork options to stuff our faces, but if you're getting emotionally invested, now might be the time to reevaluate your life choices. This is big fan behavior energy, and it's not the good kind either.

Don’t Hold Your Breath, Illinois — Buc-ee’s Probably Isn’t Coming

That's all to say. I'm fairly sure we'll never get one here, there, or anywhere in Illinois or Wisconsin. Some people are so against the idea of a Buc-ee's coming to town that they are suing the city in which they reside.

DeForest, Wisconsin’s Buc-ee’s Plan Has Stalled Over $15M Price Tag

Buc-ee's was supposed to open their very first Midwest spot in DeForest, Wisconsin, just outside of Madison, not long ago, but that plan has been resting longer than a brisket after a 36-hour smoke. The reason? DeForest would need to fork, spoon, or hand over $15 million for road upgrades to handle the influx of traffic. That's no drop in the proverbial grease trap either; that's a cool fifteen million, just so people can load up on Buc-ee the Beaver merch.

READ MORE: Top Locations Where Buc-ee's Should Open Its First Stores in Illinois

READ MORE: Three Ways We Can Get A Buc-ee's In Illinois According to AI

Buc-ee’s Doesn’t Just Want a Location — It Wants Infrastructure

It turns out that when Buc-ee's sets up shop, it doesn't just want some land; it wants a red carpet and a brand-new highway, if possible.

Illinois Is So Far Behind, Buc-ee’s Already Passed Us By

So while Wisconsin is slowly hitting the airbrake on Buc-ee's, Illinois isn't even in the vehicle. Matter of fact, Buc-ee's drove by while we were hitching a ride, and they just kept going. Makes sense. Can you imagine the highway shut-downs and interstate hubbub that would occur to make room for a Buc-ee's in The Land of Lincoln? Neither can I.