Lots of football memorabilia, fun and sports at Brandi Favre's Bay St. Louis bar

BAY ST. LOUIS -- When Sideways sports bar opened in the Depot District in September -- just in time for Cruisin' The Coast -- owner Brandi Favre said her mother's gumbo was a big hit. By the end of the weekend, it was gone.

Bonita Favre cooked her famous seafood delicacy again for the grand opening weekend for the bar, even though she was skeptical of her daughter's newest business venture.

In fact, Brandi said her mother said she was crazy to get into the bar business.

Bonita Favre's family owned Benny French's Tavern in Pass Christian. After Hurricane Camille struck South Mississippi in 1969, it was renamed Benny French's.

Brandi Favre said she remembered playing there in the daytime as a child, watching brothers Scott and Brett play with their Hot Wheels cars as they slid them through the bar. When her parents were first married, they lived in the apartment attached to the bar.

Brandi's parents also owned Favre's on the Bayou in Hancock County. It was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and the lot has been leveled since then.

Needless to say, Bonita Favre knows a thing or two about the food and nightlife industry. And her daughter is following in her footsteps -- kind of.

The bar, which is decorated with art of every football team you could imagine, is nestled along a row of restaurants and nightlife venues along Blaize Avenue, just across from the train station.

"It's got a Bourbon Street vibe," Brandi Favre said. The

light fixtures inside look like New Orleans street lights. The interior is designed in the style of a shotgun house, and it has a quaint patio with custom-built seating along the back wall.

There aren't many sports bars in Hancock County, and Favre wanted a place for friends, family and people looking for a cold beer and stuffed mozzarella burger, the most popular menu item.

She and her friends were always together for football games, but they usually hosted a party at someone's home because there weren't any bars around that catered to sports and was family friendly.

"We thought, 'Why don't we make our own?' We all love sports. Sports and beer is all you need."

She also wanted to be in downtown Bay St. Louis, near other bars and restaurants.

"I'm so ADD that I can't stay in one spot long," she said. "We'll go out, be in one bar for an hour, and then say, 'OK, where are we going next?'" Favre said. Being in an area with lots of nightlife options means a diverse crowd, which she has seen so far. When the band and DJ end at the bars next to Sideways, Favre said many people come to her place to grab food or have a nightcap before heading home.

She offers a variety of beers on tap and has a full-service bar. And the kitchen is open all night on the weekends.

And the bar's walls are full of Brett Favre memorabilia she found in her mom's barn. Favre also has a row of autographed football jerseys.

"We wanted to represent every kind of sport and every team. We're not biased," she said.

There's also some vintage signage from Favre's on the Bayou. Most of the keepsakes from her family's restaurant was still covered in mud from Katrina.

"We just cleaned it up and put it in here," she said.

Sideways is open seven days a week, and children are welcome before 10 p.m. You'll find Brandi Favre behind the bar on Sundays and Mondays.

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Lots of football memorabilia, fun and sports at Brandi Favre's Bay St. Louis bar ."