TikToker demands Dems boycott Buc-ee’s after CEO says he won’t build in blue states

“Okay, all my fellow Democrats, this is great news,” the TikToker said in a video. “There's actually a Republican-owned business that's letting you know he doesn't like us. He doesn't want our money, and he is going to prioritize opening more locations in red states.”

The user was responding to comments made by Buc-ee’s CEO and co-founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III during the opening of a new location in Benton, Arkansas.

“We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Aplin said at the Augus 17 opening.

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

The TikToker framed the comment as an attack on Democratic states and their workers.

“And the owner, Arch Beaver Aplin, we're going to call him Beaver throughout this, Beaver says that he loves the leadership of red states, that there's shitty employees in blue states,” she said. “Everything about red states is so much better for his business, which means he wants to totally depress the wages.”

She also accused Aplin of wanting to avoid benefits and argued that conservative states prioritize business owners over workers.

“Just remember, when you're traveling, drive right by Buc-ee's. Do not pull into Buc-ee's,” she said. “He doesn't want our liberal blue dollars, even though liberal blue states have a shit ton more money.”

The TikToker added, “You're going to get what you wish for, Beaver.”

Aplin did not say that Buc-ee’s does not want customers from Democratic states. His remarks focused on the company’s experience operating in business-friendly communities and its plans for continued expansion.

Buc-ee’s currently has 58 locations and plans to expand into additional states through 2031, including Louisiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina.