Buc-ee's, Publix, Wawa: Which out-of-town chain do you want to see in Columbus?
Cincinnati is getting two Publix grocery stores. The Dayton area is getting a Buc-ee's.
With so many new store chains surging into the Buckeye state, The Dispatch figured it was time for Columbus to get one of these headline-making stores.
After all, it was only a few years ago that Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Sheetz began its expansion in central Ohio with plans to have 50 stores in the region by 2025. A lot can change in just a few years.
We want to hear from you. Cast your vote in our poll on what you'd like to see come to Ohio's capital city.
NOTE: This poll has closed and voting has ended.
Buc-ee's
Texas-based Buc-ee's is a chain of large travel centers featuring gas stations and convenience stores. It's known for its clean bathrooms, its jubilant mascot, Buc-ee the beaver, and its Buc-ee nuggets, which are sweet corn puffs covered in caramel.
The nearest Buc-ee's to Columbus will be in Huber Heights, near Dayton, when construction on that location finishes near the end of 2025.
The chain currently has 60 planned or operating locations throughout the South and the Midwest.
Publix
Florida-based Publix is a chain of employee-owned grocery stores that operate mostly in the South. They're known for their "Pub subs," the store's name for their deli sandwiches.
The company operates 1,376 stores throughout the U.S. The closest to Columbus will be in Cold Spring, Kentucky, when the store finishes construction at an unannounced date.
WaWa
Like Sheetz and Buc-ee's, Philadelphia-based WaWa is a chain of gas stations and convenience stores. Their large stores serve made-to-order food and are more like a grocery store than a gas station.
WaWa has more than 1,000 stores operating throughout the East Coast and the South. There aren't any near Columbus, but the chain announced last year it plans to open 60 stores in Ohio over the next ten years, starting with Cincinnati.
Whataburger
Texas-based Whataburger is a fast food chain popular throughout the Lone Star state. They serve up burgers, chicken, salads and wings.
Whataburger has over 900 locations, 648 of which are in Texas. The chain hasn't announced any plans to move to the Midwest or Ohio.
In-N-Out Burger
California-based In-N-Out Burger is a fast-food chain known for its "animal style" fries and burgers. The animal sauce is technically on their secret menu, but it's possibly the world's worst-kept secret.
In-N-Out has over 400 stores in California and the Southwest. The company hasn't announced any plans to move to the Midwest, but it does plan on opening stores in Nashville, Tennessee over the next few years.
Portillo's
Chicago-based Portillo's is a fast-casual chain that serves the city's classics like Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef.
The chain has over 80 locations mostly clustered around Chicago and in Illinois, but they have been slowly expanding east toward Ohio. The closest location to Columbus is in Indianapolis.
Zaxby's
Georgia-based Zaxby's is a fast-casual chain known for its chicken fingers, wings and sandwiches.
There are over 900 Zaxby's locations throughout the South and Midwest. There was even a Zaxby's in Columbus during the 2000s but it closed in 2008. The nearest store is now in Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Buc-ee's, Publix, Wawa: What out chain do you want in Columbus?
