New MS Coast beer garden is an event space and neighborhood place to hang out all in one
A short golf cart drive from the bustling beach at Bay St. Louis is the new Back Yard beer garden in the Depot District, a more laid-back escape for weekend fun.
“There is nothing currently in Bay St. Louis like we were able to create behind the butcher shop,“ said owner Thomas Genin. “We have a giant space that’s the perfect place to unwind and relax — just a short distance from the marina front.”
The Back Yard Beer Garden at The Blind Tiger Butcher Shop and Seafood Market is at 126 Blaize Ave.
“We have our own off-street golf cart parking lot that can accommodate roughly 20 carts,” he said. “That’s huge for the residents of the Bay.”
Genin’s wife, Amy, said the space and vibe of the Back Yard make it the perfect place to bring the family — including the dogs — to spend a few hours.
It’s quiet and secured, she said, with a sand box for the little ones and a doggy play area.
A neighborhood hang-out
The Back Yard opened Memorial Day Weekend and “A big crowd came out,” said Scott Sutherland, managing partner, with Thomas Genin.
It’s open for a long weekend: Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to close. Live entertainment is scheduled Saturday and Sunday and is mostly acoustic and laid back, he said, so people can talk.
“More like an island feel is what we’re going for,” Sutherland said.
The beer garden has about 20 beers on tap, and 20 more in bottles and cans.
Bushwackers and baseball for the summer will give way to stout beer and football in the fall, when four 72-inch televisions can be combined to make a 140” screen for Saints’ games.
“It’s like having a dream and having someone else build it for you,” said Jim MacPhaille, who owns several of the buildings in the Depot District. He dreamed of created an event space and patio bar similar to those in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, MacPhaille said.
Food and fun
An outdoor kitchen is being built, and people can get food from the adjacent deli and seafood market, where smoked tuna dip is a favorite. Customers can order online and their smash burger, Baytown hot chicken po-boy or sweet potato fries or even seafood and steak can be cooked and ready when they arrive.
Corn hole is set up for games and a regulation horseshoe pit is on the way, along with the big sand pit for kids to play in and a dog pen area, with decorations by Bone Jour, the local dog supply store.
The Back Yard also connects to the Hen House and its craft cocktails, charcuterie boards and other snacks.
“We’re all working together over here,” Sutherland said.
The Back Yard party room is enclosed and air conditioned, with its own television and space for 12 family members or friends.
People are always asking for private space at The Blind Tiger on the beach, he said, but that’s hard to do when the restaurant is so busy. This new place is ideal for people to get away from the hustle and bustle of the beach, Sutherland said.
The beer garden also will host special events, like a barbecue competition, a pig roast and Oktoberfest in the fall.
“That’s definitely a goal of ours,” he said.
The merchants and neighbors are excited about this new attraction that Macphaille says keeps evolving.
“It’s going to be a great addition,” he said.
This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
