Business owners excited for new downtown Gulfport development

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — Soon, the heart of downtown Gulfport could look very different thanks to a transformative project coming to the area.

The project will soon claim the nearly five-acre lot between the Hancock Whitney Bank tower and the port. It will include a Tribute Portfolio by Marriott Hotel, luxury apartments, retail shops, and a parking garage.

The $105 million dollar project is expected to completely transform the downtown area.

We talked with local businesses about how the project could affect them. Octavio Arzola, owner of Tavi’s Salumeria and Pop Brothers, believes this is an exciting addition to downtown Gulfport.

“It’s super attractive. It’s great to have new things coming to the town,” said Arzola. “Everything is going to improve and make it better. I love having new things that attract customers to the downtown. We’re very excited.”

The project is expected to make downtown Gulfport a more walkable area, given that residents in the new apartments and those staying at the hotel could walk to grab coffee, a quick bite, or even a haircut. And with so many businesses just steps away from the new project, there are many options.

“I feel like our downtown doesn’t have any residential. We need these, and this development is going to help tremendously to attract people to the downtown,” Arzola said.

Most businesses in the area were not willing to talk on camera but they did share the same opinions, stating that new developments are always good for downtown Gulfport, and they hope the project will bring in new customers.

“For example: the new train, Amtrak, and this, is going to bring new customers, not just to my business, but to all the other businesses in downtown,” said Arzola. “That means with more customers we can hire more employees. We can do a lot of things that are very helpful to us.”

It is unclear exactly when this project is set to break ground, but we will provide updates when we know more.