Biloxi mall, Margaritaville and other attractions stay open during coronavirus outbreak
Editor’s note: Margaritaville Resort Biloxi, Big Play Entertainment Center and Finishline Performance Karting have since closed and restaurants are open for takeout and delivery only.
Two of the anchor stores at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi have closed, the food court is nearly deserted and shoppers are sparse, but the mall remains open as of Friday.
Things weren’t quite so quiet at the arcades at Margaritaville Resort and Big Play Entertainment Center, which on Friday remained open on a limited basis, along with the track at Finishline Performance Karting in Biloxi and Bananas Mini-Golf & Arcade in Pass Road.
Many businesses nationwide have either closed voluntarily or by government force as Americans are encouraged to practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The number of cases are increasing by higher numbers each day on the Coast, the state and the country, and by Friday, Harrison County had the most cases in Mississippi.
JCPenney and Belk stores have closed at the mall and nationwide. Hours at the mall were reduced earlier this week, and mall manager Terry Powell said Dillard’s is offering curbside service for shoppers who want to remain outside.
Nearly all the restaurants at the food court have closed. Chick-fil-A will start drive-up service in the west parking lot on Monday, Powell said.
Brick & Spoon restaurant outside Edgewater Mall remains open with seating indoors or outside, take out and delivery through Waitr, Uber Eats and other services. The staff reports business is light.
A representative of the movie theater, Biloxi Premiere LUX Cine & Pizza Pub at Edgewater Mall, posted on social media they hope to stay open, but then closed on Thursday.
The Cinemark 16 movie theater in Gulfport and The Grand Theater in D’Iberville closed Wednesday, according to their websites.
Gulfport Premium Outlets also closed Wednesday until at least March 30 to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
The closings come at what typically is one of the busiest times of the year as people shop for new spring fashions and Easter gifts and families arrive for spring break.
The Centers for Disease Control guidelines direct the public to avoid gatherings of over 10 people, and to practice social distancing.
All the casinos in the state are closed as are many hotels and restaurants on the Coast. Yet some remain open with limited service and nearly continuous cleaning and sanitizing.
Big Play Entertainment Center was limiting the number of people in one area, but after the State Department of Health on Friday evening recommended closing bars and restaurant dining rooms, Big Play announced Saturday it would close.
Every other bowling lane is open, and the balls and seating areas are sanitized after each group. Virtual reality attractions are closed, but mini golf, the go-karts and bumper cars are open, with equipment being sanitized after each use. Those waiting for go-kart rides will be spaced 10 feet apart.
Finishline Performance Karting also is open and has karts running. Bananas Mini-Golf & Arcade said it is open Friday through Sunday.
Margaritaville Resort posted on Facebook on Tuesday that all events at the resort are canceled and some of the restaurants were closed. The entire resort closed on Sunday.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant and Doe’s Eat Place are closed.
Margaritaville Hotel and Escape Family Entertainment Center are open, the post said, and Margaritaville Coffee Shop and Lost Key Bar are open for hotel guests. LandShark Bar & Grill is open with limited seating and to-go options. Seating is limited to parties of no more than six, with distance between the tables.
Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of restaurants and stores that were open, have take out, curb-side service or delivery in an attempt to support local merchants. Some of the retailers have gone to being open by appointment only.
“Things are changing daily related to the coronavirus pandemic, so we wanted to find away to keep what our businesses are doing in the forefront and help them during this time,” said Cynthia Sutton, Chamber executive director.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 3:17 PM.
