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 In this series of articles, we invite
you to follow some of the county’s sharpest shoppers
while they explore Chamber member stores and
restaurants. These volunteers have discovered an
amazing array of fabulous finds– and all in our own
backyard! For more information on this “Shop Local”
campaign, contact the Hancock Chamber of Commerce
office at 228.467.9048. For Shop Information and
Hours click here.
Sharp Shopping the Depot District!
 While
the historic Depot District may epitomize the quaint
charm of Bay St. Louis, it is now home to several
“hip” new restaurants and shops. To highlight some
outstanding holiday finds in the neighborhood, four
savvy businesswomen from the district jumped at the
chance to be Chamber “Sharp Shoppers.”
The group began at the corner of
Sycamore and Blaize Avenues where two chic women’s
clothing stores nestle side-by-side in a bright,
newly renovated building.
Jet Set
owner Kerrie White- Loya and
Bleu
proprietor Connie Bourgeois welcomed friend and
fellow shopper Courtney Pitalo from
Make it Yours (in
Depot Row).
 Courtney
didn’t waste time and started in
Bleu,
browsing through colorful racks of clothing ranging
from casual to glamorous. She quickly found a dress
she liked - for herself. The Tocca black silk
cocktail dress is hand-embroidered and Courtney
thought it’d be an elegant choice for a New Year’s
Eve party. Laughing, she remembered that she was
shopping for others, so put the dress on her own
mental wish list and continued looking at
accessories and jewelry.
She picked out a necklace by designer
Liz Henry, an artist from Jackson, Mississippi.
Henry sells to a few exclusive boutiques nation-wide
and
Bleu
carries a good selection of her work.
Courtney’s choice for her sister was a striking
Fleur de Lis necklace with Blue Quartz at $68. She
also found a Tracy Matther gold vermeil cuff
bracelet for her best friend (smooth and hammered
finishes available, $42). Courtney was certain the
bracelet was something her friend “would love and
wear all the time.”
 An
inner doorway connects the two shops, so Courtney
moved on to
Jet Set,
where her generous intentions finally fell to
temptation: She picked out something for herself.
The irresistible find was a Lilly Pulitzer blouse in
a rich chocolate - the silk charmeuse feeling as
luscious as it looked ($158). As she held it up
before a mirror, she thought the style and color
would be perfect for any holiday event – and the
color would make it a dressy wardrobe basic year
around.
Jet Set
specializes in Lilly Pulitzer clothing.
According to owner Kerrie, the best thing about the
collection is the fabrics - silks, fine
cottons and blends – beautiful to both eye and
touch. The designs are classic and “feminine
without being fussy.” The store also carries
Tom Ford sunglasses. He’s the designer who
revolutionized the Gucci brand before going out on
his own. Kerrie calls his sunglasses “the most
exquisitely made on the market.” Another
customer favorite is costume jewelry by icon Kenneth
J. Lane - Jet Set has a bountiful collection
on display.
 The
group decided to rev up for the rest of the morning
with a coffee break at
Sweet Thangs.
The Depot Row café serves up
authentic New Orleans style beignets - hot,
mouthwatering morsels that many believe surpass the
big city version. The sweet treat is perfect when
paired with steaming mugs of café au lait – a strong
coffee and chicory brew, blended with creamy hot
milk. The combination is a time-honored regional
favorite for reviving spirits and energy.
Sweet Thangs
also serves breakfast every morning Tuesday
through Sunday.
Kerrie realized that hot beignets
would make an unexpected hit with the teachers at
her children’s school. She decided to become a
holiday season “beignet elf.” She plans on picking
up several orders hot from the kitchen of
Sweet Thangs
and delivering them to teachers before
classes begin. Connie ran with the idea, quickly
listing other meetings and events where the fresh
treats would be a welcome change from the ordinary.
Next, the trio cruised into
CJ’s Food and Market
where Mary McLaurin works her culinary magic for
party and corporate events.
CJ’s
reminds one of old fashioned neighborhood grocery
stores, in a time where quality was king. The
meat cases in
CJ’s
reinforce the impression. Customers can peer
through curved glass at a fabulous display of
premium meats and homemade sausages. Mary
explains that the beef and pork are top-grade
corn-fed meats from Iowa. She adds that all
the chickens she carries are solution-free - a must
for those who care about taste and texture.
The shoppers go over
CJ’s
new Christmas catering menu that features such
delectable items as filet mignon bites with Bloody
Mary sauce, oyster patties, grilled tuna skewers and
sausage-stuffed olives. Kerrie and Connie are
already loyal patrons of
CJ’s
catering. Kerrie pointed out, “Everybody is
short on time now, especially during the holiday
season – but you still want to have friends over and
offer them something special. Mary is my
life-saver!” Connie loves the fact that
CJ’s
is also perfect for spur of the moment gatherings as
well. The store stocks a large variety of
dips, homemade chips, party breads, spice nuts
and desserts.
 The
shoppers headed next door to
Jack’s Restaurant
to find out the scoop on Christmas dining
possibilities in the Coast classic.
Jack’s
has been serving steaks and seafood for 27 years and
generations of families have made dining at the
restaurant part of their holiday tradition.
While Kerrie had plans to start her own family
tradition, her idea is to enjoy some fine dining in
her own home by picking up a meal to go.
“After the kids are in bed, my husband and I can
relax together over a special dinner.”
Owner Donna Holt explained that the
restaurant is also available for private parties
throughout the year. She notes that the staff is
always willing to work with clients to come up with
menus for special events. The large open space of
the restaurant easily accommodates large groups.
Linda
Lou Nelson, the developer who is constructing the
“Depot Row” addition to the historic shopping strip,
joined the crew at Courtney’s shop –
Make it
Yours. Courtney says that regular customers
jokingly call her “The Bag Lady,” because of her
large selection of clutches, purses, totes and
diaper bags – all available in a variety of styles
and fabrics. Each item in the shop can be
monogrammed for no extra charge. Make It Yours also
carries baby clothes, accessories and fun gift items
like “Coozies.” (These unique drink holders make
first-rate stocking stuffers - monogrammed with
initial for $12).
Linda Lou found “can’t go wrong”
gifts for the daughters of a business associate.
She chose quilted sleepover “luggage” sets that pair
up a roomy overnight bag and a very grown-up
cosmetics case (two-piece matching sets can be
monogrammed while you wait, $50 for the pair).
Courtney didn’t take long to stitch the names in
playful fonts on the pieces – just long enough for
Linda Lou to make notes on several other potential
purchases.
Linda
Lou continued around the corner to the
Alice
Moseley Museum. The nationally recognized folk
artist was a popular fixture in the Bay until her
passing in 2004. Son Tim Moseley has renovated her
landmark bright blue cottage and filled it with
antiques and original paintings by his mother. The
museum shop sells prints of Alice Moseley’s works –
matted and ready to be framed.
Tim Moseley pointed out the most
popular print - a cheerful self-portrait of the
artist in front of her cottage. It’s titled “The
House is Blue, but the Old Lady Ain’t.” In the
painting, her celebrity companion - a beagle named
“Herman” - frolics at her feet (several days a week,
Herman still greets visitors to the museum).
Linda Lou fell for a print showing a
farmer in a hopeless battle with a mule. The
obstinate creature sets back on its haunches,
refusing to budge, despite the farmer’s tugging.
The name of the print is “Labor Versus Management.”
Laughing, Linda Lou chose it for her son in Iowa,
but she noted that “anyone in the business world can
relate!”
The next stop was only a block away,
in another picturesque historic cottage, also
painted blue. The building houses
Full Moon
Clockworks, a place where Linda Lou planned to
buy “the gift of time.” Proprietor Terry Downs is
the only qualified clock repairperson on the coast.
She’s an expert in all antique clocks, as well as
those made in other countries, including Germany and
France. When hard-to-transport “patients” like
grandfather clocks need her help, she’ll even make
house-calls.
Linda Lou has a Waveland friend whose
antique clock was damaged in Katrina. She was
thrilled to learn that Terry would provide a gift
certificate in any amount that could be applied to
repair of the family heirloom. “Katrina Clocks”
have become a specialty of Terry’s. She says that
many people believe their clocks are beyond help and
are often surprised to find that restoration is
possible.
Linda Lou’s finished off the shopping
expedition with a late lunch at
Emma’s Eatery.
She’s a regular patron and knows the menu by heart.
Her only problem is choosing between a bowl of gumbo
or the creamy crab and corn bisque. While the
restaurant has only been open for a year, the fame
of its roast beef po-boy is already the stuff of
local legend. Linda Lou is a little sad that it’s
not the end of the week -the fried speckled trout
plate that’s the lunch special every Friday is a
personal favorite.
She knows from past experience that
Emma’s is available for party and event rental and
that the restaurant also makes an easy option for
take-out. Since her home is located upstairs in one
of the buildings that make up Depot Row, she revels
in the convenience that life in the neighborhood
offers.
Linda Lou ordered the bisque and
reminisced while waiting for her meal. “I lived in
Miami Beach for 20 years,” she said. “It’s an
international destination, one that’s supposed to
have it all. But here we have a sense of community
that’s unrivaled. Shopping is a social outing, a
time I can connect with my neighbors and understand
what’s really important in life.” She leans back
and smiles with satisfaction. “How lucky can you
get?”
If Hancock county residents commit to
shopping locally this holiday season, our economy
could receive an estimated 35 million dollar boost.
With that very merry goal in mind, The Hancock
Chamber of Commerce has launched a “Holiday at
Home!” campaign to make local shopping easy and
fun. The campaign will publicize the bounty of our
county - including seasonal events, merchant
specials and a spectacular array of gift ideas.
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