North Carolina · Location Watch
Buc-ee’s Mebane, North Carolina: The Tar Heel State’s First Buc-ee’s
After years of conversations, one blocked site, and a whole lot of local anticipation, North Carolina finally has dirt moving on its very first Buc-ee’s. It’s not open yet, but it’s real, it’s under construction, and here’s exactly where things stand.
opening
Is Buc-ee’s Open in North Carolina?
Not yet — North Carolina doesn’t have an operating Buc-ee’s yet, but Mebane is officially where the state’s first one is being built. Buc-ee’s held its formal groundbreaking on June 10, 2026, with the Mebane mayor, city council members, state Sen. Amy Galey, and state Reps. Dennis Riddell and Stephen Ross all in attendance. CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III spoke at the event — and, in a moment local reporters clearly enjoyed, repeatedly pronounced the city’s name “mee-BAYNE” instead of the local way of saying it.
A Buc-ee’s spokesperson has confirmed the store is targeting a November 2027 opening, consistent with the company’s broader fourth-quarter-2027 timeline given earlier in the year. That said, treat this as a target rather than a lock: Buc-ee’s has a track record of pushing back opening dates on first-in-a-new-state locations, and at least one national outlet has floated 2028 as a possibility given how those projects tend to run long.
Pro Tip: You may see conflicting dates floating around — some early coverage guessed as early as May 2027. The most reliable number is the one Buc-ee’s itself has confirmed twice now: fourth quarter of 2027. Anything more specific than that is still a guess.
Why Mebane, and Why the Wait?
North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s almost didn’t end up in Mebane at all. Conversations about bringing the chain to the area started back in 2021, with the original plan targeting a site in Orange County — a proposal that got blocked after residents raised concerns. Buc-ee’s eventually landed just over the county line in Alamance County, where Mebane’s city council approved the rezoning in January 2024.
Since then, the project has moved in phases: crews began grading the 32-acre, red-clay site in late 2025, and as of early 2026 Buc-ee’s had not yet pulled a building permit, with vertical construction — actual walls going up — expected to begin around mid-2026. A typical Buc-ee’s build takes 12 to 24 months once that starts, which is how the timeline lands on late 2027.
There’s also a road project baked into this. North Carolina’s Department of Transportation is rebuilding the entire Exit 152 interchange around the new store — widening Trollingwood-Hawfields Road, adding a second highway bridge, and installing a diverging diamond interchange to handle the extra traffic. Buc-ee’s is footing an estimated $6 to $11 million of that roadwork itself.
How We Got Here
2021
Early conversations about a North Carolina Buc-ee’s begin, initially eyeing a site in Orange County.
2021–2023
The Orange County proposal is blocked after public opposition; Buc-ee’s shifts its search to Alamance County.
January 2024
Mebane’s city council approves the rezoning request for the Trollingwood-Hawfields Road site.
Late 2025
Site grading begins on the 32-acre lot at Exit 152.
June 10, 2026
Official groundbreaking ceremony, with state and local officials on hand and Buc-ee’s confirming a Q4 2027 target.
Mid-2026
Vertical construction — the building itself — is expected to begin, alongside NCDOT’s interchange rebuild.
Targeted: November 2027
Company-confirmed target opening date, part of a broader Q4 2027 window.
What the Finished Store Will Look Like
Once built, Mebane’s Buc-ee’s will be a full-size Super Center — roughly 74,000 to 75,440 square feet and about 39 feet tall, or roughly the height of a three-story building. It’ll be around 20,000 square feet larger than the chain’s nearest existing store in Florence, South Carolina. Expect the standard lineup: brisket sandwiches, beef jerky by the wall, Beaver Nuggets, and an interactive kiosk pointing visitors toward other things to see in Mebane.
Fuel
120 pumps at 60 fueling stations
EV Charging
20–24 charging stations
Parking
650+ spaces, incl. 11 bus/RV
Jobs
200+ full-time positions
Pay
$18/hr cashiers & attendants; $21/hr food service, plus benefits
Site
32 acres off I-40/I-85 Exit 152
Pro Tip: If you’re job-hunting, don’t wait until the opening month to apply. Buc-ee’s typically opens hiring well ahead of a grand opening so it can staff and train a full crew — watch the company’s careers page as 2027 approaches.
Where’s the Nearest Open Buc-ee’s Right Now?
Florence, South Carolina (I-95)
The closest operating Buc-ee’s to North Carolina today, roughly 95 miles south of Charlotte. Until Mebane opens, this is the nearest full Buc-ee’s experience for most of the state. For reference, Mebane itself sits about 200 miles east of Asheville, roughly a three-hour drive along I-40.
Frequently Asked Question’s
The Bottom Line
North Carolina’s wait for Buc-ee’s is finally measured in months instead of just rumors. The groundbreaking happened, the road project around it is underway, and the company itself has put a date on the calendar: November 2027. It’s still more than a year out, and first-in-state Buc-ee’s projects have slipped before, but for the first time this one has real construction behind the promise.
Related: Curious about other new Buc-ee’s stops? Check out our guides to every upcoming Buc-ee’s location and every Buc-ee’s in South Carolina.