Store manager Michael Payne prepares a chicken tender dinner at Chester’s on Friday, opening day of the store. Ron Bachman opened Chester’s adjacent to the Fastgas convenience store that he owns on St. Joseph Avenue.

A new fast food option is now available on St. Joseph Avenue.

Chester’s opened Friday adjacent to the Fastgas convenience store at 1702 St. Joseph Ave. The fried chicken restaurant opens each day at 6 a.m. serving breakfast sandwiches and biscuits and gravy, said store manager Michael Payne.

Ron Bachman, owner of the seven Fastgas locations in St. Joseph, said he expects breakfast to be a natural fit for customers used to stopping at the convenience store for their morning coffee.

“If this works, we’ll bring it into our other locations,” Mr. Bachman said.

The main menu features Chester’s southern-recipe fried chicken, including bone-in chicken and chicken tenders.

“We don’t have anything pre-breaded. It’s all done fresh every day,” Mr. Payne said.

A full lineup of side dishes such as mashed potatoes and cole slaw complement the chicken, along with Chester’s signature sauces. The store has its own designated parking, but there is no dining room, so it’s all served “chicken to go,” Mr. Payne said.

Chester’s is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Bachman is also building a car wash just north of the Fastgas location at Belt and Pickett.

“We’re trying to branch out into more than just gas and snacks,” he said.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached

at susanm@npgco.com.