Texas A&M and Buc-ee’s expand co-branded T-shirt line

Texas A&M University and the iconic chain of travel centers are expanding their merchandising partnership with a new T-shirt, building on the enthusiastic response to the first tee release earlier this year. The new gray, high-performance shirt, which declares Texas A&M and Buc-ee’s “two Texas traditions,” will be available Oct. 1 at 21 Buc-ee’s locations across the state. It will also be available at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on the university’s College Station campus.

Both the new shirt and original maroon-and-white one will be for sale at the 21 select Buc-ee’s locations and the campus Barnes & Noble through the end of the year.

More merchandise is coming soon. In November, Texas A&M and Buc-ee’s will release a shirt celebrating the university’s 150th anniversary. That shirt will be available only in the campus bookstore; other details will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with Buc-ee’s and bring another unique way for Aggies to show their pride,” said Shane Hinckley, chief business development officer at Texas A&M. “As we look ahead to celebrating Texas A&M’s 150th anniversary, this partnership highlights the incredible synergy between our university and Buc-ee’s — a bond rooted in the remarkable generosity and vision of Arch ‘Beaver’ Aplin III ’80.”

Aplin has maintained close ties to his alma mater through the years. He recently gave $60 million for the Aplin Center, now under construction in the heart of the main campus. The center will bring together academic programs and industry partners to create a first-of-its-kind, hands-on learning environment for students studying hospitality, retail, food innovation, merchandising, marketing and customer experience. The co-branded merchandise offers an early glimpse of the kind of creative, real-world partnership the center is designed to inspire.

Aplin opened the first Buc-ee’s in Lake Jackson in 1982. What began as a single convenience store has become one of the most distinctive retail and hospitality brands in the country, known for its customer experience, merchandise, food, clean restrooms and, of course, the iconic beaver mascot.

The co-branded apparel will be available at the Buc-ee’s locations in Amarillo, Bastrop, Baytown, Denton, Ennis, Fort Worth, Hillsboro, Katy, Lake Jackson, Luling, Madisonville, Melissa, New Braunfels, Pearland, Royse City, San Marcos, Temple, Terrell, Texas City, Waller and Wharton.