Can you think of a feature in your home that you use every day but rarely pay attention to? If you said your home's flooring, you'd be spot on. Most homeowners overlook their floors unless they're unkempt or dirty. However, the truth is that your flooring is the largest design element of your home, making it a crucial feature that deserves attention. As one of the first features we notice subconsciously, it must look great and impress guests.
While aesthetics is always important, your flooring must also be functional. Different rooms require different demands, and your flooring should meet those demands to prevent early wear and tear. For instance, high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens need durable flooring materials that can handle daily use. Conversely, areas like your utility room, kitchen, and bathrooms need flooring options that are resistant to water. By balancing practicality and design, you can have a beautiful home that is stunning but also stands the test of time.
The challenge for most homeowners is choosing the right flooring materials and finding a flooring company that can help oversee that process. That's where Heritage Flooring Company comes into play. Whether you're looking to invest in high-quality hardwood flooring for a new construction project or you need to remove and replace your current design, Heritage Flooring is the expert to call.
As a locally owned and operated flooring company in South Carolina, we provide customers with a personalized experience that epitomizes customer service, quality, and hard work. Backed by over 40+ years of floor covering experience, we pride ourselves on quality you can stand on. Relationships are the foundation of our business. We are committed to delivering on our promises and strive to provide premium products at competitive prices.
Rooted with strong ties to Dalton, GA, our direct buying capabilities and low overhead allow us to provide you with wholesale flooring prices. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing you're buying high-quality flooring that will last for years to come. The best part? You don't have to break the bank to get the type of flooring you need.
We offer a range of flooring options for homeowners in the Lowcountry and beyond, including:
Whether you're renovating your bathroom and need tile flooring options or want soft, plush carpet for your living room, our staff are ready and waiting with a smile to help.
When you visit our showroom, you can expect to find some of the most beautiful and functional flooring options available in South Carolina. We also provide a range of flooring services to choose from, depending on your needs. Those services include:
Our team of highly skilled professionals provides top-notch flooring installation services, utilizing various methods such as nailing, stapling, gluing, and floating. From LVT flooring in Beaufort for your entire home or granite flooring for an entryway, no project is too big or too small for us to handle!
Interior design trends and styles change every year. That can be great for designers, but if you own an older home with original flooring, your home's aesthetics may feel a tad outdated. Whether you've recently moved into a new home and find the existing floor color unsuitable or want to refresh the look of your living space, floor refinishing offers a cost-effective solution without the need for complete floor replacement. Our specialized dustless sanding method and equipment ensures minimal dust during the sanding process. Our highly skilled team can then finish your floors using natural treatments or apply a stain of your choice to achieve the desired look.
Sometimes, you live in a house for a while and learn that the stairs leading to the basement or upper level just aren't as safe or well-designed as you had hoped. If that sounds familiar, Heritage Flooring Company can help. We offer a vast collection of unfinished and prefinished stair treads, along with matching floor vents as well.
If you're taking a DIY approach to your flooring project, we stock a large quantity of vapor-lock underlayment, nails, trim, adhesives, and more so you can get all the materials you need in one central location.
Now that you know a little more about our story and the flooring services we provide, let's dig into some of the types of flooring we specialize in.
Hardwood floors are a classic home decor choice, adding charm and elegance to any space. Not only that, but they have also been shown to significantly increase the long-term value of your home. We offer a wide range of expertly crafted hardwood floors in various species and widths to suit both modern and traditional styles.
Our collection includes both solid and engineered options with wire-brushed, distressed, and hand-scraped finishes. Additionally, we provide a variety of unfinished flooring choices that can be custom-finished to meet your specific design requirements. We encourage you to swing by our showroom to see what we have - we're confident our diverse selection of hardwood flooring will exceed your expectations.
Engineered hardwood floors are made of real hardwood and constructed with multiple layers of plywood, MDF, or HDF core. Each layer is cross-stacked and bonded together, making the design extremely dimensionally stable. This stability makes engineered floors versatile and suitable for all levels of the home, especially in hot climates throughout the Southeast United States. We offer over 68 in-stock prefinished hardwood options to suit any lifestyle. Additionally, we provide flooring with the click-lock method, allowing for easy installation, as well as floating options for challenging subfloors.
Solid hardwood flooring is highly regarded by many homeowners as the top choice for flooring. It's made from a single piece of 100% hardwood and is known for its durability, authenticity, and timeless appeal. Many of our solid hardwood flooring options are crafted in the USA with fine American workmanship, and are valued for their stability, consistent color, and refined grain.
Some of the best areas to install engineered or solid hardwood flooring include:
Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tiles give homeowners the rich look of hardwood flooring and ceramic tile without the high cost and demanding upkeep. This flooring option is a must for homes with heavy foot traffic. The lifelike texture, cost-effectiveness, and quick installation make vinyl plank a highly appealing flooring alternative, offering the look of real hardwood at a fraction of the cost. Our wide range of LVP/LVT comes in various colors, textures, lengths, and different widths to suit any budget.
Ceramic tile and its installation can be both expensive and laborious for homeowners. The process takes several days and can be a burden. Luckily, LVT provides a cost-effective alternative that mimics the look and feel of ceramic tile. It features stunning natural textures and realistic grout lines, making it suitable for any space. With an easy click-and-lock system, installation becomes hassle-free. LVT is 100% waterproof, pet-friendly, and resistant to scratches and stains.
Some of the best areas to install LVT flooring include:
Looking for the appearance and sensation of hardwood floors without the expense and upkeep? Then waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank is an excellent choice for low-maintenance, long-lasting flooring. LVP is completely waterproof and resistant to scratches, stains, and climate fluctuations. Homes with a lot of foot traffic, children, and pets are ideal candidates for LVP. The high-definition texture, cost-effectiveness, and speedy installation make vinyl plank a compelling flooring option at a fraction of the cost of genuine hardwood. We provide a wide range of LVP in various hues, textures, lengths, and various widths.
Some of the best areas to install LVP flooring include:
Tile has a long history in the realm of interior design. It's versatile and can be utilized to introduce a vibrant backsplash in your kitchen, form an art-deco focal point on a wall in the living room, or offer long-lasting waterproof flooring in your bathroom. When compared to decorative wall or backsplash tile, tile flooring needs to withstand constant foot traffic, dirty shoes, pet accidents, and more, all while maintaining its beauty.
The good news is that the majority of tile is inherently resistant to water, slips, and stains, which is why most homeowners opt for tile in their kitchens and bathrooms. At Heritage Flooring Company, we offer a large selection of premium marble, ceramic, and other tile materials for your kitchen and bathroom needs.
At Heritage Flooring Company, we're often asked which type of tile is best for a home's bathroom versus kitchen. While no two homeowners will ever have the same needs, ceramic tile is generally great for kitchens, while porcelain is better for bathrooms. Ceramic is the most popular choice for kitchen tile flooring because it's available in a wide range of colors, it's low maintenance, and durable. It's often glazed to make cleaning up spills and stains easy, although it's less hard compared to porcelain tile.
Porcelain tile is commonly used for bathroom tile flooring due to its waterproof nature, trendiness, and cost-effectiveness. It's better for rooms with high moisture levels, as it has a lower water absorption rate compared to ceramic. Depending on the style, porcelain tile can range from richly textured for a non-slip surface to smooth marble tones.
The best course of action when choosing tile is to try and balance functionality and aesthetics. Ultimately, find a tile that matches your personal design taste while meeting your household needs. Having trouble choosing tile for your home? Heritage Flooring staff are trained to help you find the best choice for your home and family. We'd be happy to offer our opinion - just give us a call or visit our showroom to get started.
There are few feelings as comforting and relaxing as digging your toes into a plush, soft carpet after a long day at work. Carpet flooring has been around for decades and is one of the most common and popular choices when it comes to home aesthetics. From high-pile carpet options for maximum comfort to low-pile choices best suited for professional environments, carpet is both versatile and budget-friendly. At Heritage Flooring Company, we carry a select line of premium carpet options in multiple styles & patterns to fit your lifestyle needs.
Wondering why you should consider carpet flooring? Here are some of the biggest benefits that our clients tell us about:
Have you ever lived in an apartment where you could hear everything that the people above you and beside you were doing? Even if you tiptoe through the house, you're making noise. This is especially true if you have tile, vinyl, or hardwood floors in your living spaces. Even socked feet can sound like horse hooves when there's nothing dampening your steps.
Whether you own a multi-story home, a condo, or just have really thin walls, carpets can make sure that you're not disturbing other people in your house. Carpets will also dampen the normal floor sounds like creaks. Old floors often creak, but those creaks are more obvious when you have hardwood floors.
Let's be honest: Purchasing new flooring is a big decision. But if you choose the right carpet, it won't cost as much as installing hardwood floors, which can be quite expensive. While hardwood floors look fantastic, not everyone can afford them. Most folks end up using rugs on their hardwood floors for added comfort, but they can be expensive, too.
In contrast, carpet installation is often less expensive and more affordable. If your budget allows, you can opt for fancier carpets. Whether you prefer something sleek and unobtrusive or you love the look of retro shag carpets, Heritage Flooring offers options that will suit your budget.
Concerned about safety in your home? Consider carpet flooring. If someone in your home has fallen before, you understand how alarming it can be. While carpet won't prevent accidents, it can reduce the impact and provide a softer landing. Carpet is also ideal if you have babies or toddlers. As they learn to walk, toddlers often tumble. With carpet, their falls are less painful.
It's also gentler for crawling babies and those doing tummy time. If you or your children enjoy sitting on the floor, carpet is a practical choice. Why sit on hard surfaces when you can relax on a soft, cushioned carpet? Plus, opting for a rug would mean an additional expense for your flooring.
If you pull up your flooring and find that your floors are not as even as you thought, carpets are a great solution. Uneven floors are very noticeable with hardwood or tiles, but with carpets, you can still feel them, just not see them. The softness of the carpet will also help to minimize the feel of the uneven floor. Carpets in certain colors can also conceal stains. This is one reason why many apartments opt for carpets.
Carpet is an excellent source of warmth for the floor, making it a suitable option for cold bedrooms or plain offices. Additionally, carpet acts as an insulator. The combination of the carpet and its under-padding serves as an extra insulation layer in your home. Depending on the weight and quality of your carpet, it may even contribute to increasing the R-value of your home.
Finding a great flooring company in South Carolina is a little bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, if you're looking for a team of experts to help with a flooring project in your home, you've come to the right place. Since 2018, our goal has been to provide clients with the finest flooring services in our state.
Our team collaborates closely with each client to establish a trusted environment and achieve the perfect balance of style and functionality that customers deserve. In fact, we always try to exceed expectations by going the extra mile for our customers. Whether you need new tile in your bathroom or hardwood flooring in Beaufort for your whole home, we pride ourselves on quality work and efficiency. We demonstrate genuine care for our customers and emphasize that our goal is not just to make a sale - it's to assist in any way we can.
Because, as a local flooring company, you're not just our customer. You're our friends and our neighbors. You should be treated with quality service, even if you're just asking a few questions. Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help with your flooring needs, or come by our showroom so we can show you in person.
With the Independence Day weekend right around the corner, many are preparing to grill hot dogs, roast marshmallows by a fire and watch fireworks light up the night sky. But with all the fun comes the responsibility of keeping your holiday celebrations safe.Whether you’re a resident or visitor looking to celebrate the holiday weekend, here’s your guide to safely enjoying July 4th festivities involving fireworks, gril...
With the Independence Day weekend right around the corner, many are preparing to grill hot dogs, roast marshmallows by a fire and watch fireworks light up the night sky. But with all the fun comes the responsibility of keeping your holiday celebrations safe.
Whether you’re a resident or visitor looking to celebrate the holiday weekend, here’s your guide to safely enjoying July 4th festivities involving fireworks, grills and bonfires this year.
South Carolina Fireworks Law
In South Carolina, anyone 16 or older may purchase and use consumer fireworks daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., so long as they are used safely and correctly.
On July 4th and New Year’s Eve, fireworks are allowed until 1 a.m.
However, some local laws take precedence in these uses. Here’s what to know about firework laws in Beaufort County.
Beaufort County Fireworks Ordinances
Across all areas of Beaufort County, fireworks cannot be discharged without a permit issued by the local fire chief and the state fire marshal.
Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort and Port Royal all prohibit firework use without proper permits or approval from the respective city councils.
Fireworks are banned on all beaches in Beaufort County.
Sparklers are allowed without a permit, but just make sure to use them safely and as instructed.
Fireworks Safety Tips
The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these tips to stay safe around sparklers and firework shows:
Grills are responsible for over 10,000 home fires annually in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. The risk peaks during summer months.
No matter if you’re planning to cook up a holiday burger bar or champion the hot dog eating contest, here are some practical safety tips from the NFPA to keep in mind when grilling:
No notification is needed for grilling in approved enclosures, including chimineas, fire pits or fireplaces built of non-combustible materials.
Visiting or staying in a rental?
If you’re looking to hold a recreational bonfire or fire pit, make sure to adhere to all general safety rules, fire size and precautions in Beaufort County:
Other practical tips to keep in mind, no matter where you have a fire pit or bonfire, include:
For grills and fire pits, it is recommended to have fire safety kits with a fire extinguisher, water source and first aid kit readily accessible when grilling or using a fire pit.
Downtown Beaufort is set to get a new dining addition this fall with the opening of a sandwich, charcuterie and deli shop, Sister Sister Deli & Market.Owned by a sister duo, Sami and Dani Mussman, Sister Sister is set to offer deli options, cheeses and sandwiches, all with American-made ingredients and products. Their space is intended to be part neighborhood deli and part gourmet market....
Downtown Beaufort is set to get a new dining addition this fall with the opening of a sandwich, charcuterie and deli shop, Sister Sister Deli & Market.
Owned by a sister duo, Sami and Dani Mussman, Sister Sister is set to offer deli options, cheeses and sandwiches, all with American-made ingredients and products. Their space is intended to be part neighborhood deli and part gourmet market.
Sister Sister Deli & Market will open its doors at 403 Carteret Street in Beaufort, taking over the space formerly home to Griffin Market, an Italian eatery that closed in 2024.
While a full menu has not yet been set, Sami Mussman shared that their offerings will include Southern-inspired dishes and small boards.
Here are some items to expect at this new deli and market:
Lunch offerings will include:
According to their website, Sister Sister will be focused on sustainability, responsible sourcing, and supporting local and regional producers with their products.
Renovation work began in June and along the way, the team has uncovered some relics from the building’s past. Some of these findings include:
According to Sami Mussman, the building is set to be repainted starting in July.
Though an exact opening date has not yet been announced, Sister Sister Deli & Market is hoping to open their doors by October to bring the perfect lunch break, snack stop or dinner party charcuterie board crafting location to the Lowcountry.
To follow along with their progress, you can visit their Facebook or Instagram.
Looking to celebrate Fourth of July with a bang?From Bluffton to Hilton Head and up to Port Royal, the Lowcountry region is lighting up with fireworks and festivities all week long.Here’s where you can join in the fun and see a sparkling performance in the sky:Kick off the holiday weekend with an evening packed full of family-friendly fun in Bluffton. Enjoy carnival-style games, bounce houses, tasty eats from loca...
Looking to celebrate Fourth of July with a bang?
From Bluffton to Hilton Head and up to Port Royal, the Lowcountry region is lighting up with fireworks and festivities all week long.
Here’s where you can join in the fun and see a sparkling performance in the sky:
Kick off the holiday weekend with an evening packed full of family-friendly fun in Bluffton. Enjoy carnival-style games, bounce houses, tasty eats from local vendors and live music from the Parris Island Marine Band.
A guitar rendition of the National Anthem is scheduled for 5:55 p.m., followed by fireworks lighting up the May River at 9 p.m.
Parking: Palmetto Breeze will have free shuttle service from M.C. Riley Elementary (200 Burnt Church Road) to Oyster Factory Park. Accessible parking is available at Bluffton Town Hall (20 Bridge Street).
Join the celebration at Hilton Head’s Shelter Cove for a festive night of live performances by Shannon Tanner, face painting, games and a fireworks finale over the water.
Parking: Free shuttle services are available from the Hilton Head Community Church lot (860 William Hilton Parkway) to Shelter Cove Harbour from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Enjoy all-day festivities at the Sea Pines Resort and cap the day with fireworks at the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse over the Calibogue Sound.
Parking: Parking is available in designated lots along Greenwood Drive; attendants will direct traffic. Buses are available to transport guests to and from Harbour Town from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Celebrate with coastal flair at Sands Beach in Port Royal. The evening features local food vendors, children’s activities, live music, and a performance by the Parris Island Marine Band. The evening will close with fireworks over the river.
Parking: Parking at The Sands is only for handicapped and golf cart users. Other parking options include spaces along Paris Avenue and nearby streets.
Looking for other Independence Day events to celebrate the holiday weekend?
From patriotic parades to community festivals, events are scheduled in every corner of the region. Click here for the full rundown.
By Mike McCombs and Amber HewittThe Island NewsA North Carolina man drowned at Hunting Island State Park just after noon on Friday, July 4, while trying to save his children.The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office, on Saturday morning, identified the deceased as 38-year-old Paul Peters from Indian Trail, N.C.Peters and his wife, Emily, and their two children – Asher, 4, and Ezra, 7 — were in Beaufort County on vacation, according to a source at the scene of the inci...
By Mike McCombs and Amber Hewitt
The Island News
A North Carolina man drowned at Hunting Island State Park just after noon on Friday, July 4, while trying to save his children.
The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office, on Saturday morning, identified the deceased as 38-year-old Paul Peters from Indian Trail, N.C.
Peters and his wife, Emily, and their two children – Asher, 4, and Ezra, 7 — were in Beaufort County on vacation, according to a source at the scene of the incident.
According to witnesses at the scene, between 11:35 and 11:40 a.m., on Hunting Island’s North Beach, Peters went in the water to assist his children, who were “in trouble” in the water. Peters reached the children, but according to witnesses, was caught in a rip current and began to struggle.
Several men went in to the water to help. They were able to get the children to safety, but by the time they could get Peters to shore, he had been under the water for some time.
Bystanders started to perform CPR, and EMS continued the life-saving efforts upon arrival. According to witnesses, EMS, “pumped a bunch of water out, but he never regained consciousness.”
The Coroner’s Office declared him dead, on scene, at 12:10 p.m.
Sixteen-year-old Taylor Durrance of Beaufort and her family were in the middle of the rescue efforts on Friday.
Durrance said she was sitting on the beach, listening to music, when she got a strange feeling. She said she looked up and realized something was happening.
“I saw people surrounding this man on the beach,” she said. “I didn’t really see them doing CPR yet, I think they had just [dragged] him on shore.”
She said she called out to her father, Bryan, and her brother, Matthew, that she thought this man was drowning.
“That’s when my brother found out his little boys were drowning as well,” she said.
Taylor Durrance said Ezra was pulled out of the water first, but she didn’t believe he was actually drowning but had “just swallowed some water.”
Asher was being helped by “a man in pink shorts,” though they were repeatedly being pulled back in the current.
Matthew Durrance, 22, went out into the water and retrieved Asher from the man and brought him to Taylor.
Taylor Durrance said she continued to slap Asher’s back, getting the water out of him a bit at a time, until there was one big cough and he got rid of most of the water and could breathe.
She said when the 4 year old was able to talk, he immediately asked, “Where’s my dad?”
“It just broke my heart,” she said.
While all of this was happening, Taylor Durrance said her father, Bryan Durrance, was among the group of bystanders surrounding Paul Peters and performing CPR. She said Emily Peters asked her to watch her children while she joined the group of people tending to her husband.
Taylor Durrance said the whole situation was “really sad” and a bit surreal. It might sound strange, she said, but “It felt kind of … quiet.”
This is the second drowning this week at Hunting Island. Steven Thackston, a 65-year-old male from Decatur, Ga., was pronounced dead from drowning at approximately 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
The red flag was flying at Hunting Island’s North Beach on Friday, which indicates High Hazard, meaning the surf is hazardous, often due to strong currents, high waves, or other unsafe conditions.
Under a red flag, swimming is often prohibited, and not recommended for anyone other than experienced, strong swimmers.
When speaking with The Island News, Durrance said she wouldn’t have normally talked about an event like this, but she struggled to sleep Friday night, and every time she closed her eyes, she kept reliving the event.
She felt like those not from the Beaufort area might not realize just how serious the conditions can be at Hunting Island.
“These oceans aren’t what they think they are,” she said. “They have to be aware of the currents. If it’s a red flag, don’t go in the water.”
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
Amber Hewitt is a photographer for The Island News.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — With almost 40 minutes to sunrise, a line of unabashed fans hugged the sidewalk of a roadside gas station.Just outside the electric sliding doors were Elsie Miyamura and Fred Morrow, a Hawaiian couple who staked their spot at 2 a.m. They would soon be the first customers at Buc-ee’s inaugural coastal Georgia location on Interstate 95.Since its founding in Texas in 1982, Buc-ee's has spread its buck-toothed mascot, barbecue brisket and pristine bathrooms around the country.The company opened i...
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — With almost 40 minutes to sunrise, a line of unabashed fans hugged the sidewalk of a roadside gas station.
Just outside the electric sliding doors were Elsie Miyamura and Fred Morrow, a Hawaiian couple who staked their spot at 2 a.m. They would soon be the first customers at Buc-ee’s inaugural coastal Georgia location on Interstate 95.
Since its founding in Texas in 1982, Buc-ee's has spread its buck-toothed mascot, barbecue brisket and pristine bathrooms around the country.
The company opened its first South Carolina spot in 2022 in Florence.
“This is not a gas station; this is a destination,” S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, announced to the grand opening crowd of the 53,000-square-foot, 120-pump Florence location at the juncture of Interstate 95 and S.C. Highway 327.
And the brand aspires to grow its empire throughout the Palmetto State. A Hardeeville location is planned to open in 2028, and according to City Manager Josh Gruber, the project is in the permitting stage.
Some 165 miles south of Florence, Hardeeville City Council approved in November a development that will bring a Buc-ee's off Exit 8 of I-95 95 near Hilton Head and Savannah.
Buc-ee's wants to open in Hardeeville to attract drivers along the southern I-95 corridor in South Carolina, Scott Ratcliff, the company's director of engineering, said at the time.
The retailer hopes to "pull in weary travelers," he said.
If the daily scene in Florence is any indication, this new location will have no problem doing that.
"You're going to bring a lot of benefit to our area," Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams told Ratcliff in November.
Hardeeville officials said the new Buc-ee's compound will bring around 200 jobs. The company advertises pay scales from $16 an hour for cashiers and stockers, to $20 an hour for bathroom attendants and more than $100,000 for managers — with the general manager capable of earning more than $225,000.
The store will generate new property, hospitality and sales tax revenues for Hardeeville.
The store will be along a 10-mile stretch of I-95 that the S.C. Department of Transportation is working to improve and revitalize. The construction zone runs from the Savannah River to just north of U.S. Highway 278, which carries travelers into Jasper County and parts of Beaufort County, including Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
Among the improvements are widening the highway from to six lanes from four, replacing bridges and enhancing two exits, including the off-ramp that will take traffic to the future Buc-ee's site.
As the clock ticked toward the 6 a.m. door unlocking, the crowd in Brunswick cheered at five minute milestones. Morrow, 69, and Miyamura, 75, waited for this moment — a few weeks prior, they attended a Buc-ee’s opening in Harrison County, Miss. The couple couldn’t pass up a chance to wear shirts they purchased just a road trip away. Miyaumura aspires to witness the chain’s first opening in Arizona.
Past the die-hard enthusiasts further up the line were the early risers. Landen Wade and Lane Anderson, 12-year-old best friends, woke at 4:30 a.m. from their sleepover to attend.
As most of the Lowcountry snoozed, Wade wanted to start his day with beef jerky. Asked what type of dehydrated meat he desired, he asked:
“There are flavors of beef jerky?”
It was a gobsmacking moment that opened a new world for the miniature meat mogul.
Buc-ee's pitmaster Randy Pauly finally ended the torturous waiting period. Management cheered, and a life-sized Buc-ee danced as customers christened the store. In the center of the 74,000-square-foot building was a barbecue station, where a man slapped speckled meat onto a cutting board about the size of a New York City apartment.
“Brisket on the board!” staff yelled, while a man holding a knife with handles on each side of the blade chopped away.
At any given time, 115 staffers work at this Buc-ee’s. Wearing red, they constantly clean and tweaked, correcting any piece of merchandise that a customer had pulled out of alignment.
Balls of dough became fresh tortillas and then tacos filled with ice cream scoops of scrambled eggs. Staff plied customers with samples of fudge and hot and spicy jerky. Frozen raw chickens were stuffed with dirty rice or crawfish jambalaya.
Harkening back to its Lone Star roots, longhorn skulls lined the store’s shelves. Ketchup-based barbecue sauce was available for purchase. Among the gas station’s 35,000 items, mustard-based Carolina Gold was not an option.
With an inflatable beaver at their backs, local politicians boasted about their shining new superstore at a late morning ribbon cutting. Among them was U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who is running for U.S. Senate, and called Buc-ee's the "Disney World" of gas stations.
"Buc-ee's, you have made a wise decision. You have chosen an area that you will find is so inviting," he said.
Inside the store, located about two hours south of Bluffton, copies of Willie Nelson’s “Letters to America” were nestled among cowhide beer koozies. Beverage dispensers shaped like gas pumps were available, smaller versions of the 120 fuel stations outside. And there was plenty of Buc-ee’s swag: banana pudding-scented candles, neck rests, phone holders and dancing beavers among them.
Buc-ee’s plans to stay open every hour of every day. Director of Operations Josh Smith said the store’s generator supplies “indefinite power” to every single aspect of the store.
As hurricane season begins, Smith thinks Buc-ee's is ready for whatever Mother Nature throws its way, in jest pitting its disaster response against another Southern staple.
“Waffle House will actually close,” Smith said. “We won’t.”