Mary Mahoney’s reopens after federal agents raid historic Biloxi restaurant
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South Mississippi seafood scandal
For years, Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant, a Biloxi institution known nationwide, bought foreign, frozen seafood from a local supplier and sold it to unsuspecting customers as fresh Gulf seafood, the restaurant has admitted.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration executed a search warrant Tuesday at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant.
A note taped to the green gate outside the building says “Mary Mahoney’s will be closed today for Lunch! Sorry for the inconvenience!”
Owner Bobby Mahoney told the Sun Herald that 15 to 20 agents swarmed the building just after 8:30 a.m., and employees prepping for lunch were told to leave.
“I think it’s about fish,” he said, and that to his knowledge he had not done anything wrong.
“Myself, I think it’s very trivial,” Mahoney said. For example, he said he has red snapper on the menu, and there are probably 50 to 60 varieties of red snapper.
The restaurant later issued a press release saying the FDA was there “in conjunction with an investigation of mislabeled fish.”
Mahoney said his family and employees have cooperated fully with the search.
Agents were looking at computers among other things, an agent confirmed.
The FDA regulates food safety and runs a mandatory fish inspection program for all seafood processors and retailers, including restaurants.
It appeared at least one officer with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources was among the agents at the restaurant. DMR Executive Director Joe Spraggins told the Sun Herald he was notified this morning of the search warrant, but had no details. He said, “if we are there, the FDA has asked us to assist them.”
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Mike Hurst told the Sun Herald he has no comment.
Mahoney said the restaurant planned to reopen for dinner.
The iconic downtown Biloxi restaurant was opened by the Mahoney family in 1962, when they drew together several historic buildings. The main part of the complex is the Brunet-Fourchey House built in the 1830s.
This story was originally published November 19, 2019 at 12:50 PM.
