Most gas-station visits do not require a tent, a tailgate table, or an overnight commitment. Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s inspired all three. When the Texas-based travel-center chain opened in Goodyear on June 22, fans arrived in beaver-themed clothing and set up lawn chairs and full-size tents before the doors opened at 6 a.m. The city later reported 41,000 opening-day customers, a turnout that made the arrival feel considerably bigger than a new place to fill the tank.
The celebration also came with a governor. Katie Hobbs joined the 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony, two hours after shoppers first entered the store at 1001 N. Bullard Avenue, near Interstate 10. By then, the overnight crowd had already demonstrated the chain’s unusual drawing power. Phoenix New Times documented a parking lot filled with camping setups and tailgate parties, turning an early-morning retail opening into something closer to a fan gathering, with brisket sandwiches and Beaver Nuggets waiting inside…