Vacation rentals and restaurant coming to prime spot on Government Street. Here’s the plan.
Chandeleur Outfitters moved to its new location on Washington Street in Ocean Springs, leaving opportunity for the development of the former Government Street building in the heart of downtown.
Always one to grab opportunity, as his trail of restaurants, hotels and other development projects shows, Jourdan Nicaud purchased the single-story building and plans to transform the space.
Nicaud is still working on those plans and said he will take down the worn old building and build a new, multi-use building with a restaurant on the first floor and short-term rentals above.
He estimates planning and construction will take about 18 months.
This will be the third business Nicaud Restaurant Group opens on Government Street in Ocean Springs.
Rooftop Tacos opened in early 2020, just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s right next to the Chandeleur building that Nicaud just purchased and has a distinctive mural on the facing side.
Charred Steak and Oyster Bar is nearby on the other side of Government Street.
Downtown Ocean Springs and its restaurant scene are among the most lively on the Coast and accommodations are limited.
Nicaud had planned to add four hotel rooms decorated in retro style on the second floor of Rooftop. The restaurant on the first floor and the rooftop bar made it too busy for accommodations, he said.
Instead he plans vacation rentals, he said, in a quieter location next door.
Nicaud opened his first restaurant, Bacchus on the Beach, in his hometown of Pass Christian when he was 21. He’s since built restaurants, a hotel, apartments and other development projects in all three Coast counties — mostly in busy Coast downtowns.
“We just like to be in the middle of everything,” Nicaud said.
This story was originally published August 17, 2022 at 8:45 AM.
