More than 500 people were waiting in line this morning when Dillard’s, one of the mainstays of Edgewater Mall, held its formal re-opening, and the waiting line, says Edgewater Mall Manager Terry Powell, is indicative of the business that Dillard’s has done since opening its doors on Saturday morning.
“Dillard’s had three soft openings besides this one in Biloxi,” Powell said. “One was in Ocala, Fla.; one in Macon, Ga., and one outside of Houston. The Biloxi store did more sales than all three of those combined.”
Although Edgewater Mall re-opened 110 days after Hurricane Katrina, the 180,000-square-foot, two-story Dillard’s, which faced the beachfront, was not able to re-open until now.
“This is another milestone in our recovery,” Holloway said of the re-opening. “It’s like I’ve said over and over: We have a milestone – large or small – each and every day.”
Holloway joined the Biloxi High School jazz band and others in helping celebrate the re-opening.
Dillard’s, which offers private-label products including shoes, women and men’s fashions and housewares, is “a very integral part of the mall,” Powell said. “It’s a major anchor. All of our anchors are very important to us, but Dillard’s is No. 1, and it’s re-opening will make a lot of difference in mall traffic.”
To learn more about Edgewater Mall, click here.
Council approves firm for update of comprehensive plan
The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday approved Mayor A.J. Holloway’s recommendation of the firm Wallace, Roberts and Todd to oversee an update of the city’s comprehensive plan.
Holloway spoke about the comprehensive plan and the agency, as well as a number of other issues in a presentation to the Biloxi Kiwanis Club on Monday.
To read his remarks, click here.
Harbor boat ramp re-opens ahead of schedule
Contractors working on the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor were able to re-open the boat ramp on Tuesday, several days ahead of schedule.
Work on restoring the small craft harbor had forced contractors to close the ramp on Monday and it was expected to be closed until the weekend. Contractors, however, were able to re-open it Tuesday afternoon.
Photo galleries for latest sculptures, Hibernia now online
Two new photo galleries are now online, one showcasing the latest two sculptures by artist Marlin Miller and another containing photos from the Hibernia Marching Society gathering at City Hall Tuesday afternoon.
To see the latest sculptures from Marlin Miller – a parrot and a bald eagle carved this weekend – click here.
To see photos from the Hibernia gathering – including photos of Grand Marshall Duncan McKenzie and Colleen Erin Grace – click here.
