FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. — The I-40 corridor could get much more popular in the next few years. According to Fayette County officials, documents are being signed to build a Buc-ee’s in Gallaway, TN, which is roughly 40 minutes northeast of Memphis.
“There’s a lot of hoops to jump through before we get to final product, and it’s not a done deal yet. But overall, it’s very promising, and we have a lot of hope for it,” Mayor of Fayette County, Rhea “Skip” Taylor, said.
Senator Page Walley of Fayette County shared the post breaking the news to his personal page. The post gained hundreds of comments and thousands of shares.
“After I posted that announcement, my phone just literally blew up with likes and shares like I’ve never seen before,” Senator Page Walley said.
Neighbors of the nearby cities and counties showed their excitement in the comments of Facebook posts. If all goes as planned, this will be the first Buc-ee’s less than an hour drive from Memphis and nearby cities in just a couple of years.
The location is in route from Memphis to Nashville and on the way to Blue Oval City, where another economic boom is expected as the motor company continues its developments.
“Buc-ees is an above-average employer as far as salary,” Taylor said. “Their numbers show that about 5 million people visit this one store. So that will definitely be an incentive for other businesses located in the area. Jobs will follow. Investments. So, we expect good things in that part of Fayette County.”
The company said its average starting wage is $17-$19 per hour.
However, neighbors did mention the impact a store of Buc-ee’s size could have on smaller shops and gas stations already in the area.
“There’s very few businesses in that location that are going to suffer one way or another,” Taylor said. “The vast majority of people who will be visiting this Buc-ee’s will be on I-40. They’re coming through Fayette County. This will be a destination for them to stop at.”
“We just really are blessed,” Walley said. “I know not everyone might agree because development brings change and not everybody is always comfortable with that, but for the vast majority of people, it’s going to be a tremendous asset for Fayette County.”
It’s not a done deal yet. Paperwork needs to be finalized and agreed upon. Mayor Taylor said a build out typically takes about a year and a half to two years after that to be completed.