In Mississippi, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi has been sold after sitting empty for nine years. It debuted in May 2012 as Margaritaville Casino, with a grand opening concert by Jimmy Buffett, but closed two years later in September 2014.
The long-vacant Margaritaville Resort Biloxi recently was sold, destined to become a multi-venue attraction, according to Attorney Britt Singletary, who represented the buyer, Michigan-based MIC. He said a casino isn’t among the plans, which include two restaurants, bars, live music, karaoke, axe throwing, boxing matches, outdoor rentals such as jet skis and other entertainment.
The sale price was not disclosed but recently the property had been listed for s $15.9 million. “It’s a significant investment. With that the idea of providing 10 or 11 venues in that same building. The building is ready to go, just the interior and details need to be worked out. It’s doing no good being vacant,” said Biloxi Mayor Fofo Gilich.
MIC principal Harry Mohney is the owner of Dick’s Last Resort restaurants and Cat’s Meow karaoke bars in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Orange Beach, Alabama, Nashville and Saginaw, Michigan. Mohney also is the founder of Déjà Vu, operator of more than 130 strip clubs throughout the U.S., as well as the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas.
The 68,000-square-foot Margaritaville Casino opened in May 2012 with a concert by Jimmy Buffett and closed two years later in September 2014. Located on the Biloxi Back Bay on Fifth Street, several blocks off Beach Boulevard, the venue was difficult to find and to sell.
In 2019, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS announced plans to convert the shuttered Margaritaville into the $200 million Rock & Brews casino but were stopped by the Covid-19 pandemic.
