Buc-ee’s will continue to open its super-popular convenience stores in conservative, pro-business states, founder Arch “Beaver” Applin said at a store opening recently.

The growing company, which was granted a building permit earlier this month for its Lafayette location, recently opened a store in Benton, Arkansas.

“When you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Applin said at the store’s opening. “I’m starting to realize life is too short to try to build in places where people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing.”

Applin spoke at the ribbon-cutting for the 74,000-square-foot store along I-30 southwest of Little Rock. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was also in attendance, and he lauded her efforts along with state government in getting the established.

“That idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very top,” he said.

Buc-ee’s has opened stores in traditionally conservative-leaning states with several locations in Texas and other southern states.

In Colorado, attempts at opening a location near Colorado Springs drew a packed house of opponents during a Thursday town hall meeting, reports indicate. Yet the appeal got the OK from county commissioners to move forward.

In Benton, city officials sold Buc-ee’s the land that was listed at $2.25 million for $800,000, reports indicate, in a deal that included Buc-ee’s building a public road to a proposed RV park.

Company officials declined comment about anticipated opening date for the Lafayette store. It was recently granted a building permit by Lafayette Consolidated Government, but no visible progress has begun on construction.

The Benton store opened after 16 months of construction, reports indicate. As part of the agreement with the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the company “shall use its best efforts” to complete the project within 36 months after all permits required to construct the facility are obtained.