Shop Here for Short Sales and Foreclosures

Gulfport — He already has two successful High Cotton Grill restaurants in Gulfport and D’Iberville, yet Bob Taylor felt compelled to open the Half Shell Oyster House in downtown Gulfport.

Tentatively set to open July 15, the restaurant is on U.S. 49 at 13th Street, overlooking the beach. The century-old Kremer building housed Gryders shoe store and closed before Hurricane Katrina. Taylor said he leased the building from Kremer Building LLC and together they will spend close to $500,000 on equipment and renovations.

“We’re hoping by opening this restaurant it will spur more development downtown,” said Taylor. A couple of bars and a pizza shop are also opening in the area and Taylor said he and the other business owners would like to see more housing in the area so people can move back downtown.

Half Shell Oyster House will have the look of New Orleans. From the sunny street, lunch customers will step inside to see dark wood trim against burnt orange walls, 17-foot high ceilings, exposed brick and wrought iron railings.

One platform will raise the tables to give diners a view out the high windows overlooking downtown. A mezzanine level creates room for private parties with seating for about 50, a separate bar and views of the water.

Part of the 40-foot long full-service bar will become an oyster bar where oysters will be grilled over an open flame.

“We’re going to have a New Orleans flair to our menu,” sad Taylor. He and Rob Heffner, who is vice president of operations at High Cotton Grill, are partnering to open the oyster house. They’ve spent the past few months working on recipes.

“We feel that oysters are going to be our mainstay,” said Taylor, prepared on the half shell, charbroiled, Rockefeller, in oyster shooters and other ways.

“We’re filling a void that is not being filled anywhere on the Coast,” Taylor said.

There are places that serve oysters, but he doesn’t know of any other oyster houses.

Shrimp, mussels, crab cakes and claws will be other seafood choices and rounding out the menu are pasta, steaks, poboys, veal and salads.

The restaurant’s location is prime for bringing in the lunch crowd, with Mississippi Power, Hancock Bank and BancorpSouth close by.

“We will cater to the businesses downtown,” Taylor said, “giving them lunch options as well as a place to meet after hours.” Daily happy hour specials are planned and the restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

About 90 people have been hired and are being trained at High Cotton Grill’s catering facility.

Posted at www.sunherald.com on July 2, 2009

• Your Home Value
• Mortgage Center
• Different Types of Loans
• Refinancing
• Closing Costs
• Length of Your Mortgage
• Saving for the Down Payment
• Leveraging Your Money
• How Mortgage Loans Work
• When To Pay Points
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
• How Much Can You Afford?
• Getting Your Finances in Order
• Your Credit History
• Mississippi Coast has numerous, beautiful golf courses.
• Mortgage Glossary
• Neighborhood Information
• Free Moving Quote from 123Movers.com