Chain restaurant permanently closes Gulfport location during COVID-19 pandemic
Once there were two O’Charley’s in South Mississippi, until Hurricane Katrina reduced the Biloxi location to a slab in 2005.
Now, the Gulfport restaurant has closed during the coronavirus pandemic 15 years later.
Customers learned of the closing when they went to the restaurant at 10510 U.S. 49 in Gulfport and found it locked, or in an email from O’Charleys Restaurant + Bar.
“Sorry we’re permanently closed,” the company email said, along with thanks to customers.
Gift cards are valid at any other O’Charley’s location, the notice said.
Customers responded on Facebook with comments about missing the yeast rolls, the honey butter and the loaded potato soup.
CEO W. Craig Barber talked about the challenges of operating during the coronavirus in a letter to customers posted on the company website in May.
“The last two months have been different than all of us would have imagined,” he said.
Restaurants in Mississippi were allowed to prepare only to-go orders for two months from mid-March to mid-May during the coronavirus. Once open, they are reduced to 50% occupancy.
“As we work carefully to re-open dining rooms across the country, we are adapting to the myriad of new federal, state and local regulations to ensure we are compliant and, most importantly, that everyone in our restaurants feel safe,” he said.
O’Charley’s, which is known for Southern hospitality and cuisine, opened the first location in 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee. The company has closed 20 restaurants since 2016.
