The Buc-ees we all love to hate is on its way to Ruston, and if what has been presented publicly is true, will be here sooner than we all think. There has been a ton of fanfare and a very surprisingly mixed reaction in the Ruston and Grambling communities.
New jobs at competitive wages. Food and snacks. Assorted merch. Traffic. Congestion. Transients. Tax breaks. Bring on the Beaver!
The travel oasis brings some of the best eats available – from fresh hot sandwiches to their infamous wall of jerky and all points in between. Their amply available and competitively priced gas should bring savings to residents and travelers alike. Last minute need of a random t-shirt or hoodie? They got you.
Buc-ees will be offering dozens of new jobs at highly competitive wages, which comes as a concern for many small local business owners. These struggling enterprises are barely able to hold their current employees at competitive wages. They ask what will happen when they can no longer remain competitive? How many local businesses will be forced to shut their doors for the last time? On the flip side, how many of the remaining businesses will then benefit? In the end, will there be more or less jobs in the community?
With the heightened number of travelers passing through the area, another concern that has been presented is the potential increase in crime and added human trafficking stop(s) along the i20 corridor. With thousands of people expected to stop daily, there are many additional nefarious opportunities on and around the Buc-ees grounds. Like one person told me, “it’s nothing worth thinking about until it’s worth thinking about”.
Money in. Money out. It all comes down to money.
Just a couple of “Beaver Nuggets” for your thoughts…. To beaver or not to beaver? That is the question…
Marvin Berry is a freelance opinion writer who resides in the Lincoln Parish area.