GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — The Gulfport City Council approved a deal Tuesday afternoon to lease land in the Gulfport Harbor to Robert St. John’s New South Restaurant Group.
The group has been working with the Gulfport Redevelopment Commission on the project.
Ed’s Burgers coming to the Coast
Ed’s Burgers, a restaurant in Hattiesburg, will become Ed’s On the Coast as it adds another location in Gulfport.
“It made sense out there to be able to utilize the weather and the surroundings, but then also have a really good building on that corner of beautiful property,” New South Restaurant Group COO Jarred Patterson said.
The Restaurant Group opened the Downtowner on the Gulf Coast earlier this year and has had success.
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“We do feel like it’s an underserved area on the coast. You see all this development and the population numbers are here. It’s just been something that we’ve dreamed about and really worked through,” Patterson said.
Council vote
The Gulfport City Council voted 6 to 1 on the new development. The approval included resolutions to transfer property to the redevelopment commission, approve the lease agreement, and give access to the city beach.
Council member Ella Homes-Hines was the only one to object, citing hope for a more “pristine” business to be placed on the property to utilize the surroundings and atmosphere.
All other council members supported the development, including Ward 2 council member Bryan Caldwell.
“This is not some hamburger shack. This is really a well-done, well-thought-out plan. I think it’s going to be a beautiful asset to that area of the city. And I’m really excited about the possibilities here,” Caldwell said.
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The lease agreement runs 40 years with a minimum base rent of over $33,000 a year, which will be paid to the GRC. The project is expected to create at least 55 to 70 jobs.
The development will divide the beach at the harbor, but the public will still have access to the sidewalk.
“You know, this is a mutually beneficial agreement between the city and us,” Patterson said.
The last structure on the land was the White Cap Restaurant, which stood there before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
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