Buc-ee's will open its first Arizona store in Goodyear on June 22, with the parking lot opening at midnight, doors unlocked at 6 a.m. and an 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony for the public.
The new travel center at 1001 N. Bullard Ave., just off Interstate 10, will occupy 74,000 square feet, offer 120 fueling stations and create more than 200 jobs; the company says the location will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
City officials are preparing for big crowds: Goodyear anticipates as many as 40,000 vehicles across opening day and the following week and has published a Buc-ee's travel route for June 22 to direct traffic in the area.
Stan Beard, speaking for the company, said, "We could not have picked a better location for our first store in the Grand Canyon state" and added it was "Perfectly placed for our road-trippers headed out to California or coming in for the destination-rich Phoenix area, Goodyear will be the place to stop."
This marks Buc-ee's first entry into Arizona since the chain was founded in 1982. The brand is known for its beaver mascot, expansive stores, fuel bays and claims about cleanliness and food offerings; its rollout continues nationwide and has been tracked by FilmoGaz, including coverage of other openings such as "Buc-ee's Future Opening List grows as Mansfield approves Ohio travel center" (
Despite the store's promise of quick convenience, Goodyear is treating the opening like a major public event. The city warned drivers to "Expect heavy, slow-moving traffic in the area and allow for extra travel time," advised that motorists should "be patient, be safe and follow all posted traffic control signs and signals, and directions from traffic personnel and officers," and explicitly told the public to "treat this like a major event, not a quick convenience stop."
As part of preparations, Goodyear issued a moratorium on all construction within the public right-of-way in the immediate vicinity from June 21 to July 6 to limit disruptions during the surge, and it says business access along Bullard Avenue will remain available even on the designated Buc-ee's traffic route.
The city encouraged rideshare and carpooling to reduce congestion and warned that drivers should "expect slow-moving to standstill traffic at times." Officials have also said the travel route for June 22 will remain in place for as long as traffic control is needed, and that traffic management resources will be deployed around Bullard Avenue and the I‑10 interchange during the opening period.
Practical details for visitors: the lot opens at midnight on June 22 for queuing, the retail doors open at 6 a.m., and the ribbon-cutting takes place at 8 a.m. Those planning to stop should anticipate delays, follow posted detour signs and consider staggered arrival times if possible; the store itself will be open around the clock after opening day.
The largest immediate uncertainty is how long heightened controls and the traffic route will be necessary after the official opening: the city has set the moratorium through July 6 but has not given a fixed end date for other traffic measures beyond saying the route will remain active "as long as traffic control is needed." That leaves neighbors, commuters and businesses to watch whether congestion eases quickly or remains heavy through the summer.
