Gas stations and convenience stores are open all over South Mississippi, but few are as well-researched as the new 90 Express on US 90 at Debuys Road on the Biloxi-Gulfport route.

Rob Stinson, owner of Salute Italian restaurant in Gulfport, The Reef seafood restaurant in Biloxi and several other coastal businesses, has partnered with Chevron and investors to build 90 Express.

A study showed there was a great need for a gas station that sold non-ethanol gasoline and other products on the beach, he said. He spent a year researching and learning about the convenience store industry.

He put Denis Trochesset, who had worked with him for 22 years, in charge of the new company. He hired Krista DeBrock, who had worked for years at a gas station/convenience store, and made her general manager.

His chef at Salute, Cory Fazzio, created the grab-and-go menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“He really did his research,” Stinson said. “He went and worked in a store like this.”

Stinson also made the rounds, visiting gas stations and supermarkets to get an idea of ​​how they operate and sampling products at food fairs.

The results of the new petrol station show

The two most important things they discovered during their research are that a spotless powder room and a well-lit outdoor area are most important.

The ladies’ room at 90 Express is clean and stylish enough for a restaurant, and LED lights illuminate the large area under the canopy from the gas pump to the convenience store.

Biloxi police approached him with information about a security system that would allow police to monitor the property, greatly improving security, Stinson said.

“This gives me live access to all 67 cameras we have on the property,” he said.

Inside, a mural with a South Mississippi beach motif covers half of the store above the refrigerated cold beverage counters.

“I want people to know we’re from here,” Stinson said.

A beer cellar keeps the crates cool and a cooling room behind the drinks crates makes refilling easier and ensures that the drinks are never stored outside in the heat.

Large kitchen ensures fresh food

“It’s the size of a restaurant kitchen,” Stinson said, and instead of reheating frozen foods, kitchen staff cooks freshly cooked meals and snacks throughout the day.

About 65 percent of a convenience store’s sales are made in the morning, he said, so breakfast is the most important meal of the day for them.

In a display case you will find cinnamon rolls, pistachio muffins, apple fritters and other quick breakfast treats to go with the New Orleans Roast coffee and tea selected by the manager.

“She knew what sold,” he said, and a push-button milk and sugar dispenser makes it faster and cleaner to make the perfect cup.

An alternative to the traditional breakfast is regular or spicy chicken tenders on a bun or croissant, but these are also available in the store.

Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, sausages or patties, grilled or candied bacon, hash browns, French toast or pancake sticks are some of the other options.

The lunch and dinner menu includes crawfish or chicken spring rolls, pizza sticks, corn on the cob, meat pies, crawfish pies, mashed potatoes with brown or white gravy, fried alligator and boudin balls, hamburger steak and gravy with onions, vegetables, fried pork chops, catfish or shrimp.

There is a small seating area inside the shop and outside overlooking the beach.