Maryland is probably never getting a Buc‑ee’s

Love those scrumptious, carb-tastic Beaver Nuggets? You’re going to have to hightail it to Virginia to get your hands on some.

Maryland’s liberal-leaning ways may have gotten it placed on the do-not-expand list at Buc‑ee’s, the convenience store chain with a cult-like following.

Its CEO, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, said at an Arkansas store opening last month that he would direct the company’s expansion toward “conservative, business-friendly states.”

“I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try and build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing,” Aplin said, “versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you’re building.”

The company did not respond to requests for comment.

A new map of 24 planned Buc‑ee’s locations reflects that. In fact, of those locations, most are in states where voters supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Two are in Virginia, which did not vote for Trump but had a Republican governor until January.

So, bye-bye, dreams of debates over Royal Farms’ drumsticks, Wawa’s hoagies and Buc‑ee’s BBQ brisket sandwiches. The convenience store war was over before it started.

In addition to its tasty treats, the chain is known for paying its managers $275,000, even without a college degree.

It’s no wonder that rumblings of a potential Buc‑ee’s coming to Washington County had the area buzzing earlier this year.

Hagerstown City Council member Kristin Aleshire said the rumor “made its rounds in local social media threads over the last two to six months.”

He heard the chain was looking at a site off Interstate 70, which surprised him because he thought it would instead be located along I-81.

Aleshire, who doesn’t affiliate with a political party but previously served as a Democratic Washington County commissioner, does not believe the county is missing out on anything should Buc‑ee’s bypass Hub City.

“I would hate to be a business that sort of attempts to be the bellwether of which part of the populace has the reins at any one time for any one issue,” he said, noting the irony that Washington County typically leans Republican.

Aleshire said he’s been to Buc‑ee’s twice in his life.

“In both occasions, it reminds me of what I might envision society looking like if there were ever a sort of food apocalypse and folks were clamoring for the last sandwich on the shelf,” he said. “I’m sure they do a great business. I don’t know that it matters much to Washington County at the end of the day what businesses decide to make political decisions.”

Aleshire pointed out that there are plenty of other options available along I-81 and I-70, which form one of the most heavily traveled crossroads on the Eastern Seaboard.

“We have Sheetz. I’m an avid Sheetz supporter,” he explained, rattling off other options such as Pilot, Love’s, AC&T.

“I try and steer toward more healthy options,” Aleshire said.

For you die-hard Buc‑ee’s fans, don’t fret, because a road trip is possible.

Of the 24 planned locations, one has been approved near Fredericksburg on I-95, roughly 100 miles from Baltimore. And while Buc‑ee’s does not ship its edible products, such as those nuggets, popular gummy bears and beef jerky, other sites sell their goods and ship them.

But with Royal Farms, Sheetz and Wawa running strong and occupying prime real estate throughout Maryland, who has any room left over for those Beaver Nuggets in the first place?