Buc-ee fans furious about ‘upgrade’ in the world’s largest store: ‘The charm has been taken away’

Buc-ee fans are outraged after the popular retailer made a major design change to its record-breaking new store in Luling, Texas.

The new location, which opened on June 10, is being called ‘the largest supermarket chain in the world’, with an area of ​​no less than 70,000 square meters.

But dozens of shoppers have taken to social media to blast the retailer’s decision to give its beloved beaver mascot an ‘Ozempic-esque’ makeover.

A TikTok user (@marrallmike) posted photos showing how the mascot had changed, with more than 700 people leaving negative comments about the new look My San Antonio.

‘What did they do to my beautiful boy? Looks like he’s going to scare me at 4am now,” the user wrote in the video’s description box on opening day.

“The charm has been ripped away,” said another commenter.

A TikTok user posted photos of the retailer’s beloved beaver mascot from two locations, and more than 700 others have left negative comments about the new look

The supermarket chain opened its new 75,000-square-foot location in Texas on June 10, making it the largest supermarket in the world

Like the Baytown and Alabama locations, Buc-ee’s in Luling has a beloved mascot image, but it is noticeably different from the beaver’s former appearance.

The beaver statue outside the Luling site is sculpted, and instead of small hands that are disproportionate to its body, they are much larger and longer.

The mascot’s toes are also visible and his eyes are shiny and brighter than his predecessor.

Many TikTokers have since expressed their displeasure over the statue swap, with one saying, “I hope they put the original in the Smithsonian.”

“Every time I went on a road trip to a Buc-ee’s, I always had my picture taken with the statue. That sweet statue for years,” one commenter wrote.

“But on the most recent trip I noticed something was wrong with it. Tear Buc-ee.”

Other users have given him nicknames such as ‘Hollywood Buc-ee’ and ‘Ozempic Buc-ee’ – which have been endorsed more than 300 times by other TikTokers.

While the mascot changes have upset TikTokers, one person claimed that only the new Buc-ee locations, including Luling, are getting updated statues.

“None of the old ones have changed. Only the new stores will get this model,” the commenter wrote.

Buc-ee’s Store was founded in 1982 by Arch ‘Beaver’ Aplin III and Don Wasek. It started as a chain of interstate travel centers and now has more than 40 U.S. locations

Buc-ee’s Store was founded in 1982 by Arch ‘Beaver’ Aplin III and Don Wasek.

It started as a chain of interstate travel centers and now has more than 40 U.S. locations.

The logo and mascot were created by Aplin when he and Wasek first started the retail chain, the co-founder said CBS News in 2022.

‘Beaver was my nickname; My mother named me that when I was born,” he said.

“A long time ago, really before my time, there was a cartoon character in a toothpaste commercial, and that was Bucky Beaver. So this guy always called me Bucky Beaver growing up.”

Buc-ee’s has since become a force to be reckoned with among its competitors.

Before June, the Sevierville, Tennessee, store held the record as the world’s largest supermarket.

However, the new Luling location has since taken the crown by less than 500 square feet, and Aplin confirmed CBS Austin that it will also create more than 250 jobs.

Despite this seemingly being a good thing for Texans, Floridians felt cheated after a Florida location was previously slated to become the largest Buc-ee’s in America.

The logo and mascot were created by Aplin when he and Wasek first founded the retail chain, the co-founder told CBS News in 2022.

The plan was to open a Buc-ee’s in Ocala, Florida, which would have an area of ​​80,000 square feet and become the largest supermarket in the world.

But Buc-ee’s real estate boss Stan Beard confirmed earlier this week that the Florida location would be just 71,000 square feet.

The location will still open as planned in 2025 near Interstate 75 north of Ocala.