Buc-ee’s competitor Wally’s to open multiple luxury travel centers
A growing luxury travel centers chain is expanding its presence in the midwest with plans to open multiple locations in the Kansas City area.
What Is Wally’s?
Most members of the trucking community know Buc-ee’s for their large travel centers, copious food options, and clean restrooms. A new chain called Wally’s hopes to provide a similar experience to travelers in the midwest by expanding their travel centers into the Kansas City Metro area.
Wally’s says that they are best known for “experience-based food stations, accessible restrooms and curated retail products.” Food stations include a sandwich house, a cafe, a popcorn station, a beef jerky bar, a bakery and coffee bar, and other hot food items.
Wally’s also has a “Wallybear” mascot to rival the Buc-ee’s beaver.
Other amenities include free in-store Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging stations, and “a family-focused experience.”
Like Buc-ee’s, Wally’s says on their website that “Cars, RV’s, campers & buses” are welcome, but big rigs don’t make the list of vehicles invited to the travel centers. The store does not allow any overnight or “reset” parking.
Wally’s To Expand In Illinois, Kansas City Metro
Wally’s was founded in 2020 and currently operates two locations in Pontiac, Illinois, and Fenton, Missouri, and they’ll soon be breaking ground on a third location in Whitestown, Indiana.
The company has its eyes on the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri, as the site for its fourth travel center. Wally’s is looking to open even more Kansas City area stores in the near future.
“Wally’s has closed on our first location in Independence, and is in discussion on other locations in the Kansas City Metro. Kansas City is a perfect fit for the Wally’s experience,” says Michael Rubenstein, CEO. “We still have work to do with the City of Independence to clean up some of the challenges that exist at this spot, but we have been extremely appreciative of the City’s continued support and fully expect that we will be able to finalize all of the developmental items. If all goes according to plan we would be shovels in the ground in Summer of 2024.”
The Independence store will be the largest Wally’s location yet, with a 50,000 square foot store and 80 fueling positions.