Operating Mississippi restaurants for nearly four decades, Robert St. John is planning a destination-scale coastal concept for downtown Gulfport. The upcoming Ed’s on the Beach will be a beach bar with cabanas, a professional-level volleyball court, and a live music venue. It is currently in the planning phase and is slated to open in Gulfport Harbor around March 2028.
St. John, who opened his first restaurant in 1987 and operates six restaurants and two bars across the state, said the project builds on a year-long process following a city request for proposals. The team recently met with architects to finalize the design of the new beachfront venue, which will be a spin-off of the popular Ed’s Burger Joint in Hattiesburg, Miss, which is part of St. John’s New South Restaurant Group.
Choosing Gulfport for the brand’s newest location was an intentional move for the hospitality group, which also opened The Downtowner in the city in June. In a recent phone interview with What Now New Orleans, St. John said he sees significant promise in downtown Gulfport, which is currently undergoing a bit of a revival after being devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
“In Gulfport, which is the second largest city in the state, most of the restaurants above the I-10 and the interstate are chain restaurants and so you’ve got this great little section of downtown Gulfport where there’s potential for independent restaurants. There are already places in there and a lot of people who came before us. We’re so grateful for those people who started reviving downtown Gulfport and hoping to jump on their coattails,” St. John said.
While the original Ed’s concept focuses heavily on burgers, fries, and shakes in a beach bar setting, the Gulfport Harbor location will pivot to fully embrace its waterfront environment.
“Ed’s On the Beach will have probably two-thirds of the current Ed’s menu, but then we’re adding a grilled fish, fried shrimp, and things that are more coastal,” St. John explained.
Operating as a quick-service establishment with a full bar, the restaurant will feature distinct amenities tailored to beachgoers, including local delivery straight to the sand.
“Since we’re on the beach, with cabanas and umbrella seating, we’ll deliver food and drinks out on the beach,” St. John said.
With preliminary designs underway and a full suite of beach-centric events and programming planned, including volleyball competitions and an annual music festival, Ed’s on the Beach aims to offer a vibrant destination for locals and regional visitors.
