Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Jessie Yeager — a Northeast native and Northeast High School Alumna — has served as the Store Manager at Phillips 66 “Express Stop” (5712 Independence Ave.) six days a week for the past 18 years. 

Previously working in accounting positions and at the Adams Mark Hotel and Conference Center, Yeager shared that she originally came to Phillips 66 for assistance with family needs. However, she has stayed for nearly two decades because of the people she works with and the community that has surrounded her. 

“It was definitely different,” Yeager shared in terms of her transition to her current work setting. “It was fun when I first started working here, and I stayed because [our staff] became so close.”

This Phillips 66 Express Stop is a franchise within the Phillips 66 Company. The owners of this franchise, Yeager shared, had previously owned five convenience store locations within the Historic Northeast including BP, which was formerly located at 4815 Independence Ave. 

Yeager said she used to work at that BP location around the same time she began working for the Phillips 66 Express Stop. 

This Express Stop’s current structure was built around 11 years ago when its management decided to expand a smaller building that was in the same location previously.

While Yeager said she worked for this Express Stop for around seven years before its expansion, she shared this location was a Phillips 66 long before she started working there. 

However, she shared that the location this Phillips 66 is in brings up feelings of nostalgia for her. 

“I lost my parents, they used to live two blocks from here,” she said. “I used to walk up here when it was Vickers (gas station) to buy candy when I was little.” 

And it is this personal tie that has continued to contribute to her connections with the Historic Northeast community today. 

“We care about the community; we care about our customers and try to do the best we can do,” Yeager said in an interview. 

In addition to more traditional convenience store items, this location also offers an Express Stop Kitchen with menu options available throughout the day. Some of these include — but are not limited to — philly cheesesteaks, fried chicken, chicken wings, cheese burgers, gyros, burritos and tacos, among others. 

This kitchen also offers Dubai chocolate and strawberries, which are made in house with ingredients from World Fresh Market in Overland Park, Kan., and strawberries from El Mercado Fresco. 

This location is not currently hiring, in fact, she shared that this Express Stop has a relatively low turnover rate as a majority of its employees stay and continue to work for them for a long time. 

“Most of the ones who leave are younger and decide they wanna do something else,” she shared. “Most stay and like it once they come.”

For additional information on this Phillips 66 Express Stop location — including hours of operation — visit: https://www.phillips66gas.com/station/66-P-N-J-DIVERSIFIED-0000883107/?utm_source=G&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=google-local or drop-in to meet Jessie and the Phillips 66 team!