Buc-ee’s, QuikTrip to fuel competition in north Fort Worth

Competition among gas stations near Texas Motor Speedway could heat up as two new stations come in at I-35W and Texas 114 this spring and early summer.

In addition to Shell and Valero, drivers heading south on I-35W will see the new Buc-ees by May or June, a company spokesman said. A new QuikTrip is scheduled to open at the same intersection in mid to late March, QuikTrip representative Mike Thornbrugh said.

“I know we will be competitive,” Thornbrugh said. “We respect Buc-ees, but competition is something we don’t shy away from. They’re good operators.”

Fort Worth resident Amy Mchood lives in Champions Circle development and says she frequently goes to Valero, but would go to the new QuikTrip if the gas were cheaper.

“I love QT and I love cheaper gas prices for sure,” she said. “I think having gas pumps on each corner lowers prices for everyone.”

Texas consumers have been enjoying the lowest gas prices since 2009, AAA Texas representative Doug Shupe said.

“There’s an ample supply in the market and the demand is lower during the winter months, so there are lower prices,” he said.

Shupe said gas prices likely will go up in the spring because of increased demand and more expensive fuel designed to withstand higher temperatures. But he couldn’t predict whether the competition would play a significant role in price changes.

“It depends on if a certain station is lowering their prices to compete,” he said. “They might be marketing another product to draw customers in that way.”

Buc-ees could attract people for reasons aside from gas prices.

Rachel Dymond of Boyd, Texas, said she used the Shell for convenience, but would go to QuikTrip or Buc-ees if their prices are low.

“Buc-ees is known around the entire country,” she said. “Even some of my friends’ family are excited about having a Buc-ees and they just want to come up here and play.”

Godley resident Rick Wright said he goes to both the Shell and Valero station, but that he’ll go to QuikTrip when it opens.

“Everything is clean in there,” he said. “I’ve never had any problems with any of the fuel I’ve gotten there.”

Dallas-based FedEx contractor Blake Courtney said he goes to the Shell station because the location is convenient. He said the new QuikTrip might be able to compete with Buc-ees, but he was less optimistic about the other two.

“I think these two gas stations are going to shut down when Buc-ees opens,” he said. “Buc-ees has always got the cheapest gas prices. QT may be able to compete with them, but it’s more than just the gas prices, it’s the convenience of what Buc-ees offers.”

Buc-ee’s location hiring

Applications for 11 different positions for the Fort Worth location are on the Buc-ee’s website, ranging from cashier and maintenance to bookkeeper and assistant general manager. All positions start at $13 per hour and go up to $18 per hour for assistant managers.

A major benefit: Each hired employee will be eligible for up to three weeks paid time off.

Buc-ee’s owner Arch Aplin said he will provide more detailed information regarding the hiring process closer to the grand opening of the store in May or June.

The intersection where the new gas stations are planned is a hotspot for vendors during major events at nearby Texas Motor Speedway. Although Buc-ees won’t be open in time for the Duck Commander 500 on April 9, QuikTrip will.

Thornbrugh said the company sponsors a NASCAR event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but he wasn’t sure whether the gas station would host vendors April 9.

“It’s always a possibility,” he said.

This story was originally published February 2, 2016 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Buc-ee’s, QuikTrip to fuel competition in north Fort Worth."