For years, Desi Downey had dreamed of opening her own convenience store in the Florida Keys. But after a rough year and a bit of opportunity in 2009, she decided on a store on Louisiana Highway 10 that many Washington Parish residents are quite familiar with.

Formerly known as Highway 10 One-Stop, the gas station and convenience store at 59269 Highway 10 is called The Bridge Store Too.

Downey and business partners Lorri Bahm, Keith Bahm and Connie Claybrook leased the building from the previous owner and opened up shop on Jan. 1, nearly 15 months after Highway 10 One-Stop had closed down.

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Downey’s business partners also run The Bridge Store, located on Louisiana Highway 430 in Franklinton. Hence the name: The Bridge Store Too.

Lorri Bahm said The Bridge Store got its name because of its location near a bridge. And while The Bridge Store Too is not really near any bridges, Downey points out that the store is the only convenience store between Bogalusa City Limits and the Highway 10 bridge near Sheridan.

Although cold weather was a factor last month, the business is off to a good start, said Downey.

“It’s doing very well,” she said. “Word is getting out that the food is good.”

The store’s deli serves fried chicken the same way it was made previously, Downey said. And they offer breakfast items and daily lunch specials like red beans and rice and chicken and dumplings.

The store carries regular convenience store commodities like snacks, drinks, cold beer, gas and diesel fuel, but they also carry a few non-traditional items like hardware supplies and tractor hydraulic fluid.

Downey said the staff is also listening to customer requests, and are bringing in propane, charcoal and other items.

Many of the regular customers include truck drivers and other folks traveling between Bogalusa and Franklinton, as well as residents from area subdivisions and even soldiers from the nearby National Guard armory, Downey said.

“People come in and say, ‘Thank you for opening this store’,” Downey said, adding such compliments have been the highlight of running the store.

And while it’s not in South Florida, Downey’s dream has become reality at least partially.

“Everybody in America wants to grow up and won their own business,” she said.

The Bridge Too is open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday, with deli hours from 5 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m. or until the food items sell out.

For more information, call The Bridge Store Too at 735-3969.