$5 million development will replace what Katrina destroyed at Gulfport beachfront
Developers say one part on U.S. 90 in Gulfport is the ideal location for a new gas station and convenience store and they plan to start construction this summer.
A Shell station sat on this site before Hurricane Katrina and this new, $5 million gas station project also will carry the Shell brand, said Rav Bedi. The developer said he operates gas stations and businesses at other locations throughout Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.
The site is on the Southwest side of Courthouse Road and Beach Boulevard, across the street from Surf Style souvenir shop and across the highway from the Ken Combs Pier.
“We’re trying to take full advantage of that corner,” Bedi said..
This new Shell will be more convenient and high-tech than the 2005 version. It will have convenience food for those who want to stop and get a drink, a snack or ice before they go fishing, along with some supplies for fishing.
It also will have a kitchen serving breakfast and a meat, catfish and two sides plate lunch specials.
Bedi said his company is in talks with a franchise restaurant to provide food service with a drive-thru.
A small outdoor seating area is planned, where customers can eat with a view of the water.
It also will have eight fuel bays so 16 cars can refuel at a time, Bedi said.
He plans to install an electric charging station with at least two spots to plug in and possibly a supercharger so customers’ vehicles will be charged by the time they are finished with a quick meal.
This will be the first gas station on Beach Boulevard in Gulfport since Hurricane Katrina, said Sean Logan with Logan-Anderson, who represented the buyer in the purchase of the property. The next closest gas station and convenience store on U.S. 90 is several miles away in Long Beach and in Biloxi, he said.
Badi said he chose this location because of the number of cars that pass the site daily.
“We saw a lot of traffic, especially on Courthouse,” he said.
Lenny Sawyer with NAI Sawyer Real Estate in Gulfport was the seller agent.
He said a waterproofing treatment will be applied to protect the building from hurricanes at the 1.7 acre property that has 217 feet frontage on U.S. 90 and extends back from the highway 360 feet.
“He’s really got a nice piece of property,” Sawyer said.
