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Legal battle over Long Beach casino hotel pits mayor against local developer

A decade-old lease and political tensions collide in Mississippi. Will a local businessman's casino dream survive the mayor's opposition—or will rival developers win?

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows the entrance to a casino with a large screen on the wall, a banner with pictures...
The image shows the entrance to a casino with a large screen on the wall, a banner with pictures and text, a group of people standing on the floor, sign boards with text on them, a roof with ceiling lights, and a watermark at the bottom.

A legal dispute has erupted in Long Beach, Mississippi, over plans to build a casino hotel on a city-owned waterfront site. Local businessman Jim Parrish, who secured approval for his project last year, now accuses Mayor Tim Pierce of blocking his development in favor of rival investors. The conflict centers on a long-standing lease and competing visions for the city's future.

Parrish, owner of Parrish's Restaurant & Lounge and The Inn at Magnolia Alley, first signed a 20-year lease with the city in February 2010. His agreement, running until February 2030, covers a Gulf-front property heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The proposed casino hotel would sit across Beach Boulevard/US 90 on the former Kmart site.

In November 2024, the Long Beach Board of Aldermen approved Parrish's casino plans under his company, Long Beach Harbor Resort LLC. The project had previously won support from former mayor George Bass. However, Parrish now claims Mayor Pierce has undermined his efforts by telling other developers that his lease operates month-to-month.

A lawsuit filed by Parrish alleges that Pierce and the Aldermen have actively courted alternative developers for the casino project. The dispute comes as three additional casinos are proposed nearby, targeting Biloxi's gaming market. Before his election, Pierce had highlighted harbor reconstruction—not casino development—as the city's top priority.

Meanwhile, in California, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is advancing a separate casino resort near Long Beach, though no other major projects are currently confirmed in the area.

The legal battle delays Parrish's casino plans while raising questions about Long Beach's development strategy. His lease remains in effect until 2030, but the city's support for his project now appears uncertain. The outcome will determine whether his vision—or a competing proposal—shapes the waterfront's future.

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