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Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi Closes Its Doors

September 16th, 2014


Back in July it was announced that the Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi would close on or before September 19th. On Monday night, the doors closed.

Allen Godfrey, executive director of the Gaming Commission, told the Sun Herald that officials from the casino notified them they would close at 10 p.m.

“We were made aware of this and we’ll have agents on standby,” he said.

A train clacked by around 9:30 p.m., its whistle a last call for the casino that opened in 2012 with a concert by Jimmy Buffett.

A couple moving from Michigan to Nevada pulled in and when they learned it was the final hour, hurried inside to buy a souvenir T-shirt.

A few employees carried items to their cars, while others not scheduled to work headed in one last time.

“We’ve been here since Day 1,” a woman said while another said, “We’re just saying goodbye to our co-workers.”

The third woman said, “it’s sad but …” and shrugged her shoulders.

The employee parking lot was empty and the staff was parked in the regular lot.

“The employees are going to be paid through the 19th as promised,” said Michael Cavanaugh, attorney for MVB Holdings, which operated the casino.

Cavanaugh said the company was unable to come to an agreement with the landlords to build a hotel on the property, which the management said is needed for the casino to stay in business.

“Everybody wants a better outcome,” Cavanaugh said, “everybody but the landlords.”

The landowners won’t be able to step in and run the casino, he said. “When we close down the license is history.”

Gaming Commission regulations now require a casino to have a 200-room hotel and other amenities before they open.

(hat tip Tony)


Tagged in Business Empire, Casinos

Lucy Buffett to Open Second Restaurant in Destin

September 12th, 2014


news_luludestinMany of you have visited Jimmy Buffett’s sister Lucy’s restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and in 2015 she’ll open a second Lulu’s… this one in Destin, Florida.

Lucy “LuLu” Buffett, owner of LuLu’s at Homeport Marina, recently announced her plan to open a second LuLu’s location in Destin in a low-key way, via Facebook. She posted: “Uh, did I forget to mention…” along with a photo of a sign at the new spot. “Keep calm and eat gumbo,” the sign reads. “Destin 2015.”

Buffett’s new venture will be located close to her brother Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, which opened in Destin in February of this year. The siblings grew up in Mobile.

The new LuLu’s in Destin will be similar in size and atmosphere to the one in Gulf Shores, according to a spokeswoman for Buffett. The restaurant will be at the base of the Mid-Bay Bridge next to Legendary Marine, overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay, according to a letter from Buffett on the LuLu’s website.

“I always thought the Florida Panhandle would be the perfect place for another LuLu’s,” she wrote. “We’ve had many offers to open one in other places, but it never quite seemed to be the right time or place. I’d always muse, ‘I will one day, when…'”

If all goes to plan, Buffett’s “one day” will happen sometime next year.

Read more at AL.com


Tagged in Personal/Family

Details on Restaurants and Amenities at Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood, FL

September 4th, 2014


Developers of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort have revealed some of the restaurants and amenities that the property will offer when it opens in the summer of 2015:

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort will feature Jimmy Buffett lyric-inspired food and beverage venues including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, LandShark Bar & Grill, License to Chill Rooftop Bar, Lone Palm Bar and 5 o’clock Somewhere Bar.

Developers also announced that a Margaritaville-inspired upscale dining restaurant named JWB’s will also be part of the resort’s lineup.

Margaritaville will also have a St. Somewhere Spa with 11 treatment rooms. Services at the 15,000 square-foot spa will include hot stone treatments, aromatherapy, deep tissue massages, Swedish massages, Shiatsu massages, on-site facials, waxing, hair styling, manicures and pedicures.

The resort will also offer 11 meeting and event spaces, including the 10,224 square foot Compass Rose Ballroom. More details will be announced on the resort’s beachfront fitness center, water recreation and activity areas and entertainment venues.


Tagged in Business Empire, Margaritaville Hotel

Watch Jimmy Surf in Australia

September 2nd, 2014


If you’ve browsed around on Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.tv, you may have seen this video already. It being added to Youtube today caught our attention here at Buffettworld.

Enjoy a home video shot by Jimmy at one of his favorite surf breaks – Byron Bay in Australia. As the old saying goes: it’s not how many times you fall down that matters. It’s that you keep getting back up!


Tagged in Margaritaville TV, Personal/Family, Videos