Wally’s Aims To Challenge Buc-ee’s In The Midwest

Buc-ee’s has done an excellent job of branding itself as THE place to stop and get gas at on your Texas road trip. Excellent enough that they are expanding to the north and east. But is there a competitor already in the Midwest that has set up shop? Have you been to Wally’s?

Wally's Fenton, Missouri  I-44

Wally’s seems very much like a Buc-ee’s type place. Giant fueling/charging station, mega bathrooms, meat carving station for BBQ sandwiches, gourmet coffee and beverages, a beef jerky bar (???), popcorn station,  and a fun mascot group led by Wally Bear. Just like Buc-ee’s, Wally’s is also not a stop for semi-trucks.

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There are currently two locations for Wally’s. the original in Pontiac, Illinois along I-55 and another in Fenton, Missouri along I-44. Wally’s has some growing to do to catch up to Buc-ee’s which started over 40 years ago in Texas and grew within the state before expanding beyond the Lone Star borders in 2017 in Florida, and has since expanded to 10 more states and 54 locations in total.

Buc-ee's Springfield, Missouri I-44

Buc-cee’s has continued to grow its brand in recent years. Can Wally’s do something similar along the interstates of the Midwest? That’ll be up to you. Is it enough to have a Midwest version of a huge Texas convenience store? Or should Wally’s out Buc-cee’s Buc-cees by going bigger or having something unique? Next time your on I-55 near Pontiac, Illinois or I-44 in Fenton, Missouri, get in to Wally’s and find out what might be the next big thing in this part of the country. OR-- if you're traveling between St. Louis and Springfield on I-44 stop at them both and compare.