In a hastily called press conference Tuesday, Denver mayor Mike Johnston and Chancellor Jeremy Haefner announced a joint real estate agreement to allow Buc-ees to develop a parcel of land on the northeast corner of Buchtel Boulevard and University Boulevard. Under the deal, the City of Denver is relocating an aging City-owned power substation on the west side of the proposed parcel. DU’s parcel, Parking Lot 108, will comprise the eastern portion of the 4.5-acre lot (see map below). The terms of the final agreement were not immediately available.
The site will include 70 covered fueling positions and 6 EV stations, along with a 43,000 square foot convenience store. The store will feature conventional c-store fare along with Beaver Nuggets (caramel-coated corn puffs), fresh chopped brisket sandwiches, and a wide variety of beef jerky from its “jerkywall”.
At the announcement, Buc-ees CEO, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, made an offer to DU’s School of Hospitality to have his culinary staff teach students how to make Buc-ees specialties like paddle tails (cinnamon sugar pastries), beaver chips, and Kolaches (Czech-inspired pastries filled with sausage and cheese or jalapeño).
“This partnership builds on our 4D experience – doughnuts, diesel, diet colas, and Ding Dongs,” joked Chancellor Jeremy Haefner at the press conference. “Seriously, the site will offer our students jobs as well as convenience.”
During the announcement, the mayor and chancellor both insisted that the new location will not generate new traffic but, rather, draw on existing traffic patterns. All this, while offering students and residents enhanced dining and fueling options…