Economic impact of Mardi Gras

Even though carnival season lasts just over a month, the impact for local businesses is more long-term.
Thousands of tourists and locals pour into boutiques, restaurants, bars, and other businesses along parade routes, boosting revenue by double digits.
For new businesses, like the coffee and tea spot Coast Roast in Gulfport, it’s not just about the extra dollar, but the potential for life-long customers. Coast Roast owner Shawn Motella said, “We’ve been allowing people to come in here. If there’s a seat open, they came in. We had people sitting all along the front and they were here the whole parade and we don’t care. Come on in, it’s all good.”
The coffee shop is located on the corner of Highway 49 and 16th Street, making it a prime location for parking and parade-watching.