Buc-ee’s Travel Center buzz builds as Mansfield lawmakers move development forward

MANSFIELD — Jodie Perry doesn’t recall the subject line of the email when Buc-ee’s dropped into her inbox in May 2025.

But it didn’t take the Mansfield mayor long to get excited about the subject matter.

“She pretty quickly used the name Buc-ee’s. I was off-site checking my (email by) phone and, I was like, ‘OK, hang on a second. I gotta look at this again and see what that is.’

“I was thrilled,” Perry said Tuesday night.

The mayor spoke to the media moments after City Council voted unanimously to take the next required step in a a land annexation process that could lead to a sprawling Buc-ee’s Travel Center being built near the intersection of I-71/Ohio 39.

The development could mean more than 200 new, full-time jobs in the city at a retail site that would encompass more than 70,000 square feet.

“This is one of those very unique opportunities,” Perry said. “Obviously, everyone doesn’t love it. But there has been a lot of public support for it. It really provides a unique opportunity for Mansfield.

“It puts Mansfield on a different map, I think, too, beyond just Buc-ee’s for other developments and not even just retail ones,” the mayor said.

“People will know where Buc-ee’s is on I-71.”

Perry said the company, which was founded in Texas 44 years ago, had already done “behind-the-scenes due diligence” on the location before they contacted her.

“Over the course of the conversation, I think, to be able to be the first in a development that has nothing else on an interchange is pretty unique in this part of the country,” the mayor said.

“Maybe in other parts (of the country) it’s not as unique, but I think that did play a part,” Perry said, referencing the location next to a busy, six-lane interstate that is also near U.S. 30.

“They don’t tend to go into primarily, urban areas. They tend to stay on the outskirts, so I think we had kind of the right spot and the right market to make it work,” she said.

A company spokesperson last week said Buc-ee’s is “excited about our partnership with the City of Mansfield and Richland County.”

“We still have some work to do before closing on the property, but both the city’s and county’s show of support is certainly a huge step in the right direction,” the spokesperson said.

A Buc-ee’s Travel Center is a one-of-a-kind destination experience, the company spokesperson said, “known for its pristine bathrooms, friendly staff and freshly prepared food.

“Featuring in-house BBQ, baked goods and sweets, clothing, a unique collection of gifts and weekend getaway gear, Buc-ee’s has redefined the traditional pit stop,” the spokesperson said.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Texas, Buc-ee’s has 36 stores across the Lonestar State and 18 other locations throughout Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Its newest store is scheduled to open April 6 near Dayton, its first Ohio location.

The process has moved quickly since Perry and company officials confirmed the project plans on March 9 to Richland Source. City Council approved three pieces of legislation on Tuesday related to the project and lawmakers quickly spoke in favor of the plan.

Lawmakers voice support of annexation proposal

At-large Council member David Falquette was one of several who endorsed the idea.

“Having run several election (campaigns) and being grilled by constituents and the press, one of the biggest questions they always ask is, ‘What are you doing to get jobs in Mansfield?’

“Here we have an opportunity to bring forth (200 jobs with) pay rates are supposed to be relatively exciting. I’m glad that it sounds like we’re moving forward on this,” Falquette said.

“I think there’s a lot of moving pieces and I really look forward to the relationship with the city and the townships and and our new resident, Buc-ee’s.”

According to the company website, associates at a Buc-ee’s Travel Center begin work at $18 to 21 per hour. Team leads are paid $21 to $24 per hour while department managers earn between $31 and $33 per hour. An outlet’s assistant general manager is paid $125,000 annually and the general manager receives between $200,000 and $275,000.

Sixth Ward Council representative Deborah Mount acknowledged the concerns of some residents, including three who spoke to council on Tuesday during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“I appreciate the concerns of the neighbors that live right around there. I’m glad for this (60-day) period of time where everybody can get together, do all the testing (and complete) all the agreements to make sure everything is ironed out before it comes back for final approval,” Mount said.

“I just wanted to say thank you to everybody working on the process and we are glad to see it moving along and meeting all those points that it needs to,” she said.

At-large Council member Shari Robertson echoed her fellow lawmakers.

“I know that this project has generated a lot of passion in various ways. I think that you couldn’t honestly pick a company that has been (more) open and very receptive to the concerns.

“I know a lot of my concerns were quelled in speaking with the mayor and some of the others and I really appreciate that,” Robertson said.

Third Ward Councilwoman Crystal Davis Weese said she appreciated concerns from some residents.

“But one of the things that is kind of innovative with Buc-ee’s is we can’t discount the concept that this is a rather large corporation,” she said.

“The onset of jobs are going to bring in some things that will be beneficial … technology and all of those things that take place with a company this large. I would encourage people to take a look at that a bit more because you’d probably be impressed with some of the things that Buc-ee’s will offer to this area,” Davis Weese said.

Trio of local residents voice concerns

Three residents raised concerns about the project during the meeting, including Gwendolyn Stadelman, a Royal Oak Drive resident who has family living near the proposed development site.

“I think that I’m very saddened to see the annexation take place because I would think that my hometown would want to pull in more sustainable jobs to maintain the youth to the area, such as tech, more industry,” she said, citing a need for the kind of jobs local young people would return home for after college.

“I disagree with it. I oppose it. I don’t want my grandchildren growing up next to it. Safety is a huge concern,” Stadelman said.

‘I do think we’re starting to catch the eye of developers’

Perry acknowledged concerns, but said Buc-ee’s will not be the last new economic development.

She said it comes on the heels of a recent $74 million expansion announced by Newman Technology on the city’s north side and a planned $25 million downtown housing project buoyed by the donation of properties by John and Mimi Fernyak.

“I do think that we are starting to catch the eye of developers. We’re also starting to make our case better to local developers.

“I think there’s a few pieces of it that are really coming into play, but certainly we cannot discount the growth of Columbus. The growth of Columbus is pushing people up I-71.

“I think we’re in a really good spot where we can stay independent of Columbus, but sort of draft off their success. We have the ability to think about what do we want to grow to and do it at a more reasonable pace than some of the surrounding communities to Columbus right now,” Perry said.

“It’s not just that we’re chasing out-of-town people, but I do think there’s people locally that as they see the city taking care of things like Main Street, the water mains, things like they, they’re willing to invest their own money,” the mayor said.

Perry has said the plan is for “Type 2” annexation, which leaves the land in the respective townships.

“The townships will still get the property taxes. Obviously, the county will get the sales tax, which should be pretty significant. And then, from the city’s perspective, those payroll taxes will come to Mansfield,” she said.

“It’s really an ideal opportunity for everyone,” Perry said.