The new San Marcos Buc-ee’s location is set to open in July, according to Buc-ee’s Media Coordinator Crissy Gonzales.
Gonzales wrote in an email to The Star that staff are eager to welcome San Marcos patrons. The location was approved by the city during a March 5, 2024 San Marcos City Council meeting
“We are aiming for a projected opening date of July 2026,” Gonzales wrote. “Buc-ee’s is dedicated to offering a ‘clean, friendly, and in-stock experience’ for all our customers.”
San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson said Buc-ee’s would bring multiple benefits to San Marcos, including city taxation benefits, no rebates on sales tax and over 200 jobs. Hughson said the building would be an investment of $50 million, with $5.9 million in property tax paid over a period of 15 years, as well as half of the store’s sales tax. The store will be about 74,000 square feet.
“[Buc-ee’s] noted that during the pandemic, it takes 175 jobs just to operate that store, even during the pandemic. [That’s] what they went with, but it’ll really be a lot more than that,” Hughson said. “One of their things we’re really impressed with is their employee benefits and their employee pay scale.”
Hughson was unaware of how many part-time jobs would be available for students compared to the number of full-time jobs that will be available at the location.
Hughson said some job benefits include health insurance, extra pay for night shifts and three weeks of paid time off per year. She also noted 401K benefits and community fund donations, in addition to following San Marcos lighting standards, in order to prevent light pollution.
“They will not have any lights pillage into other areas,” Hughson said. “Certainly not the residential area that’s over across the railroad tracks behind them, which is the closest.”
The residential area behind the Buc-ee’s construction location is called Blanco Vista, which includes around seven San Marcos neighborhoods.
As of late January, the location only has full-time managerial position applications open, according to the Buc-ee’s website.
Councilmember Alyssa Garza has been critical of the store in past reports by The Star. In the vote approving the store at the March 5, 2025 council meeting, she was the only councilmember who voted against it.
Garza said during this vote that she heard that Buc-ee’s has a history of employee mistreatment. She noted that she did not want to bring in an establishment that would continue with this behavior.
“I feel like I’m not doing my due diligence if I don’t ask [questions regarding employee treatment],” Garza said at the meeting. “I personally am not [comfortable] moving forward with this.”
On Indeed, Buc-ee’s has a 2.5-star employee rating, based on over 1,600 reviews.
Camila Velazquez, a political science sophomore said that she believed the new store would create work and had an ideal location.
“I think it’s an amazing location, honestly. It’s between San Marcos and Austin, so it’s good that it’s not on the other side of San Antonio to Austin,” Velazquez said. “I feel like it would lead to more jobs for the students as well, so I think it’s a good idea to have it there.”
Taelor Kelsi, a finance freshman, said she believes the Buc-ee’s is in a location with a sizable amount of student traffic. She said she is excited for students to enjoy the store.
“[Buc-ee’s] offers like a lot of food, a lot of, you know, [merchandise], and it’s just overall a welcoming business, and I know I enjoy it, so I know many other students will enjoy it as well,” Kelsi said.
As the store gets closer to opening, Buc-ee’s plans to issue a press release two weeks before the opening date. The release will include all store details, according to Gonzales.
