South Mississippi ‘dive bar’ closing doors after more than 30 years in business
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- Rumours Lounge in Ocean Springs will permanently close on Monday, July 21, 2025.
- The bar opened in 1992 and struggled to compete amid a growing local nightlife scene.
- A farewell potluck event is planned for Sunday, inviting community participation.
More restaurants and bars open in Ocean Springs nearly every week, but sometimes they also close.
Rumours Lounge, a self-proclaimed “dive bar” in Ocean Springs, is in its last days at 3540 Bienville Blvd., southeast of Ocean Springs Hospital.
The closing was announced on the bar’s Facebook page.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must inform everyone that Rumours will be permanently closing their doors on Monday July 21,” the post said. “We will miss each and every one of you. We love you and thank you for your support throughout the years.”
It’s been open since 1992, said Jennifer Coleman. She was manager and co-owner when Claude Kerry died three years ago, and now is the owner.
The economy is tough, she said, and business is going down.
“We’ve got so many bars in the town,” she said, and it’s hard for Rumours to compete with the places that have music.
“I’ve been in F&B (food and beverage) my whole life,” she said, and now she is ready to retire from it and see what’s next.
Her phone is ringing off the hook since she announced the closing of the 24-hour bar, Coleman said.
One final blowout is planned on Sunday, starting around 3-4 p.m. or whenever anyone wants to arrive and continuing perhaps until the doors are locked at 7 a.m. on Monday, July 21.
People are asked to bring a dish or something for the grill to share.
“Come and help us give Rumours the going away that it truly deserves,” the post says.
A 2015 Sun Herald article talked about how Rumours Lounge was one of the old-school bars serving up ice-cold beer.
“These ‘watering holes’ each have their own personality,” the article said, “and it’s often defined by their bartenders, dart leagues or juke box offerings.”
