The Next Case- Buc-ee’s Abatement: A Deal Done Right

The Art of the Deal (Minus the Middleman)

By Amanda Schulte | The Limestone Lowdown

I’ll give credit where credit’s due. Not every article ends in frustration or finger-pointing. Some deals really do make sense, and the Buc-ee’s abatement is one of them.

For months, rumors pointed to Decatur as the next Buc-ee’s site. Then, seemingly overnight, the beaver turned its sights to Athens, and for once, the city landed a deal that checked every box.

What Made This One Work

Unlike so many recent abatements funneled through layers of “developers” and LLCs, this one was direct. Buc-ee’s Alabama II, LLC came straight to the table with clear terms and a clear return.

The 2020 City Council resolution spelled it out:
$35 million investment for a 53,000 square foot travel center with 120 fuel pumps.
170 full-time jobs with an estimated $7 million annual payroll.
Buc-ee’s fronted $3.5 million to help fund sewer and public infrastructure work around the I-65 and Huntsville Browns Ferry Road interchange.
The city would later reimburse that amount from sales tax proceeds, but only after Buc-ee’s opened and started producing revenue.
Buc-ee’s also committed to donate $35,000 a year for 20 years to local community programs and to build and dedicate an extension of Lindsay Lane to city standards.

On top of that, Governor Kay Ivey’s office awarded a $750,000 ADECA grant to expand sewer infrastructure that will serve every business at that exit, not just Buc-ee’s. Even the zoning and annexation were handled up front, with 73 acres rezoned B-2 General Business to properly support growth.

A Proud Moment on the Record

At the municipal candidate forum this past August, hosted by the local NAACP, a question came from the audience about the revenue from Buc-ee’s.

Before anyone else could blink, Mayor Ronnie Marks practically ran to the microphone. With a grin, he said he checks the Buc-ee’s numbers every single day. And honestly, you can’t blame him. Because for once, Athens has something to brag about. This deal is the model of how incentives should work. A major employer that invests in our community pays its own way and still gives back $35,000 every year for two decades. That’s real partnership, not just politics.

Why It Stands Out

No shadowy LLCs with PO boxes in different states. No developer “friends” walking away with taxpayer-funded windfalls.
Buc-ee’s took the risk, built the infrastructure, and created jobs. Athens got revenue, visibility, and long-term infrastructure that will keep fueling future growth.

When a deal is structured this cleanly, transparency isn’t a problem. It’s a selling point.

Lessons Learned

So why did this one work so well for Athens? Because the middleman didn’t get a cut.

Instead of filtering money through layers of developers, the city made a direct agreement with the business doing the building. Athens has got a stronger tax base, better roads, and a new economic anchor. Buc-ee’s got customers and goodwill. And the public got a rare thing in city government, a deal that delivers what it promised. This is a benefit to the whole community, not just a select few.

If only every “economic development” story ended this way.

Editor’s Note: Opinion Piece

This article is an opinion piece based on information obtained from public records at Athens City Hall. Sometimes the best deals aren’t the flashiest, they’re just the fairest. Buc-ee’s put its own money on the line, and Athens finally met a partner willing to do the same.

The beaver may have big teeth, but at least this time, it chewed fair.