Jimmy Buffet helps open new Biloxi casino
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — The Margaritaville Casino is open. And it's already getting rave reviews.
Pascagoula native Jimmy Buffett came home Tuesday and opened Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant in Biloxi. Buffett played for nearly an hour, sharing songs and memories of growing up on the Gulf Coast.
Those who weren't among the 4,000 VIP guests formed an impromptu Parrothead yacht club near the marina and listened from their kayaks and party boats.
Interspersed among "Margaritaville," ''5 O'clock Somewhere" and other favorite songs, he shared memories. Buffett saluted Jake Mladinich, who hired him for his first professional gig at Trader John's in Biloxi, and called out, "Thank you Jake. It worked out."
The $62 million casino has hired 1,000 employees. It opened to the public at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Its interior boasts floor to ceiling windows offering a view of Back Bay, the marina and Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge, as well as replica vintage planes and boats as decor.
CEO Tom Brosig said they've already scheduled the first boxing match in June.
It is the first casino to open in South Mississippi since Hard Rock in 2007 in Biloxi. The IP was the first to open after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"I think this is great for Biloxi, great for the entire area," said Mike Hollywood, 65, of Ocean Springs.
Hollywood and his girlfriend, Anne Kiper, sat at one of the brightly painted picnic tables and sipped on frozen margaritas. The pair sang along to many of the tunes, and toasted their margaritas when "Come Monday" started playing.
"It is exactly what we hoped it would be," said John Hairston, a member of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. "There's nowhere else like it."
Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran said she believes it will attract a new group of people, some of whom she hopes will bring business to Ocean Springs.
"I'm here to see the volcano slider," said Jessie Hutton of Hammond, Ind., who also wanted to try her luck at the casino. "I hope I get some of their dollars," she said.
Janice Richardson of Gulfport said she wanted to see what Margaritaville looks like inside and didn't want to wait beyond the first day.
Gaming Commissioner Nolen Canon came from Northern Mississippi. "It's so Biloxi," he said of the resort.
