Norwalk, Iowa, has revived its bid to bring a Buc-ee's travel center to the city, following the rejection of a similar proposal in Urbandale. City leaders in Norwalk officially re-engaged with the Texas-based company after the Urbandale City Council voted against a necessary land-use change for Buc-ee's development.
Norwalk had initially approached Buc-ee's over a year ago, but negotiations paused when the company focused on Urbandale for its planned Iowa debut. With Urbandale's plans now off the table, Norwalk is hoping to attract the popular chain.
"We've reached out and said, you know, Norwalk is still in play. We'd still love them to come here," said Norwalk Mayor Tom Phillips. Phillips, who reportedly wore a Buc-ee's shirt while discussing the renewed effort, described the chain as "phenomenon" of the Buc-ee's experience, noting the impressive nature of its stores.
The proposed site in Norwalk is located on the southern side of the city near Interstate 35, currently a cornfield. The city's proposal from last summer includes plans for a new interchange on I-35 to support the development. City officials believe the location's proximity to a high-traffic interstate provides a significant advantage, with the site also being a roughly ten-minute drive from Interstate 80.
If approved, Norwalk envisions a large, 24-hour Buc-ee's with 100 gas pumps and approximately 200 employees. However, Buc-ee's arrival in Iowa remains uncertain.
In Urbandale, the city council's 3-2 vote against a land-use designation change halted the Buc-ee's project. Concerns raised by city officials at the time centered on a need for more information regarding the development.
This rejection has prompted other Iowa cities to express interest. Ankeny and Bondurant have signaled their intentions, and West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble also put his city forward as a potential location. Trimble stated that a Buc-ee's would be "a huge deal for us from an economic and tourism standpoint," adding that it would also benefit "quality of life and for offering people some other fun things to do in West Des Moines."
Norwalk believes its proactive approach, including submitting its proposal last year with a planned I-35 interchange, could persuade Buc-ee's to reconsider.
Buc-ee's has not yet commented on the increased interest from Iowa communities. The company's president, CEO, and co-founder, Arch "Beaver" Aplin III, recently indicated that the chain is targeting "conservative, business-friendly states" with strong workforces for its ongoing national expansion, which is planned through 2031. Buc-ee's currently operates 58 locations.