Ohio's First Buc-ee's Opens, Sparking Debate Over New Company Policy

The Texas-based convenience store chain expands to the Buckeye State, but a new payment policy has some customers divided.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:55pm

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration featuring the Buc-ee's logo repeated in a grid pattern, using bright, neon-like colors and heavy black outlines to create a modern, abstract pop art representation of the iconic travel center brand.The bold, eye-catching Buc-ee's brand becomes a pop art statement as the Texas-based chain expands its unique convenience store experience to Ohio.Cincinnati Today

Buc-ee's, the popular Texas-based convenience store chain, has opened its first-ever location in Ohio, in the city of Huber Heights about 65 miles from Cincinnati. The highly anticipated arrival of the massive travel center has been met with excitement, but also some controversy over a new company policy that only allows customers to use gift cards purchased at Buc-ee's locations.

Why it matters

Buc-ee's is known for its massive size, wide selection of snacks and merchandise, and clean restrooms, making it a popular stop for road trippers. The company's expansion into Ohio represents its continued growth across the Midwest, but the new gift card policy has sparked debate among customers who are used to the flexibility of using cards from other retailers.

The details

The new Buc-ee's location in Huber Heights features the chain's signature amenities, including a large convenience store, dozens of fueling stations, and an expansive food court. However, the company has implemented a policy that only allows customers to use gift cards purchased directly from Buc-ee's, rather than cards from other retailers. This has led to some frustration among shoppers who are accustomed to the convenience of using a variety of gift cards.

  • Buc-ee's opened its first Ohio location in Huber Heights on April 10, 2026.

The players

Buc-ee's

A Texas-based convenience store chain known for its massive travel centers, wide selection of snacks and merchandise, and clean restrooms.

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What they’re saying

“You can only use Buc-ee's gift cards at their stores? That's really inconvenient and limits my options as a customer.”

— Sarah Johnson, Huber Heights resident

“I understand Buc-ee's wants to promote their own gift cards, but I hope they reconsider this policy. It's going to be a hassle for a lot of people.”

— Michael Rodriguez, Frequent road tripper

What’s next

Buc-ee's has not indicated if it plans to change the gift card policy at its new Ohio location or future expansion sites.

The takeaway

Buc-ee's arrival in Ohio is an exciting development for road trippers and convenience store enthusiasts, but the company's new gift card policy has created some frustration among customers who are used to more flexibility in their payment options.