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September 20, 2010
Business booming on Coast
Seafood is delicious; casinos riding hot streak; hotels filling up
GULFPORT — Recent reports suggests business in South Mississippi is not only healthy, but is beginning to thrive.
Casinos and hotels have witnessed large crowds, and local restaurants have noticed a spike in traffic as well — and yes, that even includes those specializing in seafood.
Ernest Ulrich, owner of Port City Cafe, said business at his downtown Gulfport bistro is up more than 70 percent from this same time last year.
“This is without a doubt our best year ever,” said Ulrich, who has operated Port City for more than a decade. “I think it has a lot to do with us just riding this huge wave of revitalization in downtown (Gulfport), but this has by far been our best year in business here, and I have the sales receipts to prove it.”
Business has been so good for Ulrich this year that he was able to expand his cafe and open a sports bar next door, where he is expecting a large crowd for tonight’s prime time tilt between the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.
State and federal agencies have conducted thousands of individual tests on the quality of local seafood in recent months. It seems Mississippi seafood is some of the most examined food in the world and costumers are not hesitating to order it from the menu at Port City.
Richard Gollot at Golden Gulf Seafood in Biloxi said two weeks ago a single shrimp boat in his fleet arrived back at the dock with nearly 100,000 pounds of fresh gulf shrimp. And last week, two boats combined for a catch of more than 100,000 pounds.
“Our gulf shrimp now are the most studied, analyzed and scrutinized shrimp in the entire world and the quality has never been better,” Gollot said.
Local hotels, such as the Courtyard by Marriott on the beach and others throughout the city, reported significant increases in bookings through the month of August.
What’s more, the Sun Herald reported last week that for the first time in more than a year, Coast casino revenue topped $100 million in August — and for the first time since 1994, revenue was higher in South Mississippi than at other state casinos. In contrast, All 11 Atlantic City casinos had a losing August, down 11.3 percent from last year.
In addition, Coast casino revenue was up two of the last three months, and experts believe the Coast’s economy, overall, is showing positive signs of a healthy resurgence.
Free outdoor concert to kick-off Cruisin’ the Coast
Cruisin' the Coast kicks off in downtown Gulfport with a live performance by Al "lil fats" Jackson. Don't miss this live, outdoor kick-off event Oct. 3 at the corner of 26th Street and 25th Avenue, part of Gulfport Main Street's Fall Around Downtown Festival.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
