What’s coming inside that modern building across from Hotel Beatnik in Ocean Springs?
Those driving along Porter Avenue near the beach in Ocean Springs do a double-take when they see the new building that is the second phase of the Ocean Springs Collective on Porter Avenue.
The trendy Hotel Beatnik launched the Ocean Springs Collective on Porter Avenue in 2020. This new building at 401 Porter — across the street from the Beatnik — already houses Seaside Fitness and within a few days will be home to Rain Residential.
Groundbreaking for the next phases of development for a bookstore, restaurant and nano brewery, is about a month away.
The architecture of this second phase isn’t what people expect in Ocean Springs. And yes, it does look like. South Mississippi. The space is designed to mimic the vertical pine trees that are so much a part of the Coast. Cypress siding makes it equal parts natural and surprising.
“We wanted to do something that will spur creativity,” said Roxy Condrey, who with her husband Ted Condrey, founded Rain Residential in 2009.
They’ve since expanded into building and restoring hotels and creating the Collective.
What is The Collective?
Their mission is bringing the community together with shared experiences and talents, and on Wednesday they did that by hosting the Celebration of the Porter Avenue.
The event saw the return of the Wednesday Collective Fresh Market to the grounds. The market began last year to expand the popular Saturday farmer’s market in downtown Ocean Springs to mid-week.
Through Ocean Springs Environmental Alliance, the first tree was planted Wednesday to begin the Porter Avenue Tree Canopy Planting Project that will bring the shade of about 75 live oak trees along the street.
The Girl Scouts helped kids start to plant the community garden that is part of the Collective. The Historic Ocean Springs Association presented findings of the HOSA Porter Area Community Conversations Report as the street is beautified and improved along with the Collective.
“The Ocean Springs Collective will be a lot of things, but at its core, it is going to serve as a space for creativity and new ideas to come together,” the Collective Facebook page says.
What’s to come
The building that was the Rain Residential office will be repurposed and expanded into The Book Porter bookstore.
“We’re not wanting to take that building down,” Roxy said. It has character and nostalgia from the bead board walls that may be original to the structure, which she said dates back to about 1910.
Instead they will add a large glass addition to the back to add more space and a look that expands on the architecture of the first two phases.
They wanted to see how people would respond to the architecture, and she said “it’s been really well received.” An architect driving by stopped just to walk through the newest building, she said.
A sustainable garden and restaurant also are on the way.
The Condreys, along with another investor, purchased Gulf Hills Hotel, where Al Capone hid out and Elvis Presley hung out.
They totally are remodeling the waterfront resort just north of Ocean Springs. Crews gutted the hotel and 23 guest rooms are under construction, Roxy said.
“We do have the ballroom completely done,” she said, and they will host the first event in May.
“It’s definitely going to be updated a lot,” she said, with a new entrance and windows, but the hotel still will be recognizable for those who want the history maintained.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
