100 restaurants by summer's end in Ocean Springs - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

100 restaurants by summer's end in Ocean Springs

By Krystal Allan - bio | email

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -  It's heating up to 100 in Ocean Springs, but we're not talking about the weather. The city's on track to open 100 restaurants by the end of the summer. 

It's a promotion through the Ocean Springs' Chamber of Commerce called 'We're heating up to 100.'  Though announced last month, the city says it's still on track to reaching the magic number. Right now, it has 94 restaurants.   

"It's amazing we have so much that are opening so fast," says Cynthia Dobbs, Chamber of Commerce.

Frostings, a gourmet cupcake shop on Bienville Boulevard was the latest to open up shop. A little further down the road is Chef Scott's Noodle House. Owner Scott Khong opened just in time for summer.

"It looks like a piece of sugar every fly wants to try. That's what Ocean Springs is like, a piece of sugar," says Chef Scott Khong.

More eateries should equal more income, money that could help fuel the two percent food and beverage tax. The tax was passed last year and will help pay for the city's new public safety center.

"I think it will help generate more revenue for the city with the new businesses opening. It's going to create more activity and more customers," says Dobbs.

Khong hopes to build on the excitement of new restaurants by opening the White Locust in downtown Ocean Springs. It will be a fine-dining Thai restaurant and will occupy the building which use to hold Martha's Tea Room. The new restaurant will sit next door to his sushi restaurant, Chef Scott's.

With just six restaurants to go to 100, the city says it's on track to claiming its spot as the dining meca of South Mississippi.

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