Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Buc-ee’s

Work is scheduled to start soon on the first Buc-ee’s convenience store in Springfield.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the store, in northeast Springfield near Strafford, is scheduled 12 p.m. Aug. 23, according to a news release. The site is at the Interstate 44/Mulroy Road interchange.

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Councilperson Abe McGull and other local officials are slated to be in attendance.

“Springfield is the Birthplace of Route 66. It’s perfectly natural that Buc-ee’s, the ultimate road-trip destination, is coming to this gorgeous stretch of Americana history,” said Stan Beard, director of real estate for Texas-based Buc-ee’s, in the release. “We are delighted to be a part of this community and excited to make Springfield our first stop in Missouri.”

The project cost for the 53,000-square-foot travel center and 100-pump vehicle fueling facility is roughly $60 million, according to past reporting.

Springfield City Council in June approved the establishment of the Cottle’s Range Community Improvement District for the Buc-ee's project. The 36-acre district can impose a 0.625% sales and use tax to reimburse Buc-ee’s up to $5.1 million for road and utility improvements, according to past reporting.

A separate tax agreement was approved by council in January.