LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) - Jeepin the Coast has turned into an annual early summer boom for Long Beach businesses.
“It’s the biggest event of the year for the city of Long Beach and for us,” Coastal Daiquiri Bar and Grill owner Keith Starita said. “Every year, the numbers get bigger, bigger and bigger.”
Many of the thousands of Jeepers will make their way into Keith Starita’s Coastal Daiquiri Bar and Grill, now considered Jeepin Central.
“It takes us about two months to get prepared for it,” Starita said.
While Jeepin the Coast events happen all around the area, Long Beach made it a priority to roll out the red carpet for the Jeepers. Alderman Patrick Bennett says it’s one of his favorite times of the year.
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“I have three kids, we bring them, and let them go,” Bennett said. “We have a band; we close off the street so it’s safe. It’s just a really fun event for the family.”
Several years ago, Starita and his daughter started the restaurant and bar from scratch. What’s become a Jeepers paradise every year in late May and early June has played a key role in the rapid growth of his business.
“It brings a lot of people from all over the country, it gets them down here to see what Long Beach is all about,” Starita said.
Like the city’s gateway, Jeepin the Coast serves as an introduction to the community. A visit to town for the event has turned into regular trips for Jeep lovers.
“What I’ve noticed is not just during Jeepin, but during all times of the year, if you drive by a lot of our restaurants, the Jeepin community is always around,” Bennett said.
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“This past weekend, we probably had 50 or 60 Jeeps come over from Louisiana just to come hang out,” Starita said. “They’ve kind of adopted us, I guess, is a good word to say.”
During Jeepin the Coast, Jeff Davis Avenue and the surrounding area is packed with people. Those crowds bring the potential of attracting new developments to the city.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who come on trips like this, and they end up retiring and moving down here, that’s a story I hear often,” Bennett said.
“Long Beach is exploding right now,” Starita said. “There’s houses and new businesses going up, there’s a lot happening in Long Beach right now.”
Ready, set, let’s roll: Jeepin the Coast starts Wednesday and continues for five straight days.
“If you’ve never been here for Jeepin the Coast, it’s worth coming here just to see it,” Starita said. “Y’all gonna have a blast.”
Two of the big highlights of Jeepin the Coast are the “Beach Crawl” and Jeep Parade, which both happen Saturday in Long Beach.
You can find the complete schedule for Jeepin the Coast on the event’s website.
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