Closed during COVID, a restaurant inside a Coast resort is reopening with new concept
The Blue Marlin is going to make a big splash when the restaurant reopens in March at Centennial Plaza in Gulfport.
The restaurant on U.S. 90 is in a historic building at the restored resort and has views of the beach and the water. It closed last year during the coronavirus pandemic for planned changes and a possible relocation to another area of Centennial Plaza.
But the restaurant will remain in the same space but with a different concept, said Centennial Plaza spokesperson Tessy Lambert.
“It’’s still going to be a seafood restaurant but it’s no longer fine dining,” Lambert said. “The concept is now much more family friendly fare.
A soft opening will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on March 3.
The grand opening celebration will be a March 12 Party in the Park, complete with a free concert by singers who made it deep into the competition on “The Voice” television show, Lambert said.
The party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of Centennial Plaza is open to the public. Food will be available to purchase so people can get a taste of the new Blue Marlin menu.
There will be more of the fried seafood that is favored in South Mississippi, Lambert said, and oversized po-boys big enough for a family of four to share.
An event space on the second floor of the restaurant is available for parties and banquets.
Centennial Plaza has two hotels, a wedding venue and other amenities. The waterpark will open at Centennial Plaza — and at sister property Margariatville Resort Biloxi — on March 1 so families on spring break can enjoy the slides and lazy river rides, Lambert said.
