Business

How 7 business closures reshaped Mississippi communities

Stories by Biloxi Sun Herald journalists, with AI summarization

Closures across South Mississippi in 2025 shook communities and sparked transformation. This list of stories outlines how the shutdown of beloved spots like Dirt Cheap stores and Cheeky Monkey bakery left gaps in daily life, while others, like Kingjaks restaurant, laid the foundation for new ventures like beachside wedding venues. The Biloxi Yacht Club gave up its beachfront lease, and the Krispy Kreme in Ocean Springs was replaced by Parlor Doughnuts, showing how the region reimagined old spaces.

Meanwhile, ALDI moved into multiple former Winn-Dixie locations, bringing new life to grocery shopping. These stories show how closures forced change, spurred reinvention, and tested the resilience of South Mississippi neighborhoods.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The Dirt Cheap store on U.S. 49 in Gulfport is one of five in the country designated as “super lux” and selling premium brands at reduced prices. By Courtesy of Dirt Cheap

NO. 1: BIG BUSINESS CLOSURES HURT RURAL COMMUNITIES, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ACROSS MISSISSIPPI

Bankruptcies like that of Dirt Cheap often leave behind limited retail options in rural communities. | Published January 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mallory Strickland

Customers can choose to dine indoors or out with a breeze off the water at the new Kingjaks barbecue and seafood restaurant on the beach in Biloxi. There’s also a choice of an elevator or stairs. By Mary Perez

NO. 2: TRANSFORMING KINGJAKS: CHANGE TO EVENTS VENUE PROMISES SOUTH MS BEACHSIDE WEDDINGS

The restaurant closed just before the owner lost her fight with cancer and will reopen as something quite different. | Published January 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

The Biloxi Yacht Club on the beach was sold and the owner is looking for a new purpose for the dramatic Southern-style building with a swimming pool. He also owns a former casino in east Biloxi and will open an entertainment venue there. By Tim Isbell

NO. 3: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YACHT CLUB AND FORMER CASINO IN BILOXI? HERE’S THE LATEST ON THE PLANS

While work continues to turn a former casino into a new dining and entertainment venue in Biloxi, the owner looks for a use for the Biloxi Yacht Club building he owns on the beach. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

This file photo shows the Enviva Inc. wood-pellet manufacturing plant in George County while it was under construction in April 2022. The plant has met job creation goals in exchange for millions in federal, state and local assistance, and continues operations while the company and subsidiaries reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. By Hannah Ruhoff

NO. 4: MISSISSIPPI PLANT CLOSING AFTER GETTING MILLIONS IN INCENTIVES. ARE SOUTH MS SITES SAFE?

Two months after emerging from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Enviva is closing its plant in northern Mississippi and looking at efficiencies at its other facilities, including two in South MS. | Published February 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

Ken Montana shows off his skills cutting ribs and ham at the buffet in his Montana’s restaurant in Gulfport in this 1999 file photo. By DAVID PURDY

NO. 5: REMEMBER MONTANA’S BARBECUE? CHEF USED HIS MAMA’S RECIPES AT SOUTH MS RESTAURANTS

Here’s a throwback to Southern-style buffet restaurants that were popular on the MS Gulf Coast 25 years ago and owned by the same chef. | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

Very Vanilla cupcakes with Facebook sprinkles will be given away on Friday at Cheeky Monkey in Biloxi, in celebration of Facebook’s new birthday stories. By Mary Perez

NO. 6: BELOVED MS COAST BAKERY MAKES LAST KING CAKE AND CLOSES STORE. BUT IT’S NOT THE END

The Biloxi bakery with an unusual name is going in a different direction after the head baker decided to stir things up. Here’s what is next for their cakes and treats. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

The “hot” light is out and the doors closed at the Krispy Kreme shop on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs and another on U.S. 49 in Gulfport. By Mary Perez

NO. 7: MISS KRISPY KREME IN OCEAN SPRINGS? A NEW CRAFT-DONUT RESTAURANT IS TAKING ITS PLACE

This new shop is known for layered doughnuts, made in small batches throughout the day, with flavors like strawberry shortcake and maple bacon. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.