Will coronavirus affect opening of Buc-ee’s in Warner Robins? Here’s what to know.

Construction of the new Buc-ee’s in Warner Robins hasn’t been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening of the 53,000-square-foot travel center is on track for the first quarter of 2021, said Jeff Nadalo, a spokesman for the iconic Texas-based chain.

However, there are enough uncertainties about what the local landscape will look like as the nation battles the new coronavirus that the timeline could change, he said.

The Warner Robins location, the first Buc-ee’s in Georgia, represents a $35 million investment by the company.

Between 175 to to 225 jobs are expected to be created with the hourly wage expected to range between $13 to $16 an hour.

The 22-acre site is located on the south side of Russell Parkway in Peach County on property annexed by Warner Robins, which is in Houston County.

The company broke ground on the project Nov. 18.

“I think the biggest thing is that we’ve been very successful,” Nadalo said. “The local government has been very helpful in getting the project moved along despite the challenges we’re all facing.”

Hiring, social distancing practices

Buc-ee’s opened a new location in Ennis, Texas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not without some challenges.

The day after opening April 6, all fresh food was thrown out, the deli closed and the 70-member kitchen staff was self-quarantined after two Buc-ee’s employees tested positive for COVID-19, according to an April 7 news release issued by the Ellis mayor.

The two employees had traveled to Ennis from other locations March 27-30, the release said. The two had interacted with the kitchen staff as the travel center prepared to open, Naldo said.

The store was deep-cleaned. Those quarantined have since returned to work, while additional safety measures have been taken including the outfitting of plexiglas shields at the registers, Naldo said.

The store had already overcome logistical and other challenges, such as practicing social distancing through the hiring process, Naldo said.

Once the pandemic hit, a few employees hired earlier to work at the store decided they did not want to work in retail, he said.

The Ennis store, which is about the same size as the one being built in Warner Robins, opened on schedule, Naldo said.

Also, in early April, it became publicly known that an employee of a Buc-ee’s in Katy, Texas, had tested positive for COVID-19.

A night-shift warehouse employee reporting to work in mid-March after having been off for about a week was exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and was sent home, Naldo said in an email.

“After reviewing video from more than 120 in-store cameras during the brief period of time that the employee was inside the building, we determined that the employee had no contact with any customers,” Naldo said. “We identified four employees that had been near the ill employee. Those four employees had been in self-quarantine at home and have since returned to work. “

Also, the store determined that no merchandise had been contaminated.

Buc-ee’s has coronavirus rules in place

Naldo credited procedures already in place for the quick identification of the sick employee, who later tested positive for COVID-19.

Here are measures that Buc-ee’s has implemented to protect its employees and customers at its 40 stores, according to Naldo:

▪ Monitoring all employees for any symptoms of COVID-19.

▪ Checking the body temperature of all employees, at all facilities, every day, as soon as the employee arrives at work.

▪ Requiring any employee displaying fever, coughing or shortness of breath to leave work and remain away from work until all CDC guidelines for return to work are satisfied.

▪ Installing transparent shields at all locations where staff and customers interact.

▪ Providing social distancing guidance through floor stickers.

▪ Increasing the frequency of surface cleaning and using disinfectant cleaner on all touchable surfaces.

▪ Ensuring that employees work positions are set to prevent contact within 6 feet of any person.

▪ Increasing availability of hand sanitizer to employees at all work stations.

▪ Mandating that all employees wash their hands with soap and water at least every hour.

▪ Posting signs requesting that all customers wash their hands in our restrooms prior to shopping in the store.

▪ Requiring employees to wear surgical type faceshield masks.