Hotel Beatnik was conceived before the need for social distancing, but rooms in their own standalone cabins with a poolside view is an ideal option during a pandemic.
And while it’s a “tiny hotel” with four modern, floating cabins now, The Beatnik is the first part of what will be the Ocean Springs Collective. Plans include a bookstore, gym, nano brewery and restaurant across the street.
All this is coming to the south end of Porter Avenue at Williams Street, an easy walking distance to the beach and downtown.
Owners Ted and Roxy Condrey moved from Louisiana to Mississippi 13 years ago and made Ocean Springs home. They started with the Ocean Springs Inn, hidden away on Washington Avenue. They are part owners of The Roost boutique hotel and speakeasy just down the street at 604 Porter. They’re just opening the Beatnik at 402 Porter and they own Rain Residential across the street, where The Collective will be built.
Roxy Condrey said they took inspiration from the free and easy vibe of the Beatnik culture of the 1950s and ‘60s and designed the hotel as a throwback to those times — but with modern touches.
“We really want people to calm and disconnect and relax,” she said. Guests can cool off in the plunge pool, sit by the fire pit, picnic at the outdoor table, discover the meditation garden, or venture off property for an eco-tour or boat ride.
“My goal is to make the amenities so inviting they will decide to explore these instead of watching TV while they’re here,” she said.
Amenities and a meditation garden
Each of the four units has basically the same layout, although two have playful bunkrooms where two kids can sleep. The other two units have sitting rooms in that space.
The wet bars are equipped with a sink, mini fridge, a toaster oven to heat leftovers and coffeemakers. Roxy said they are working with a local coffee brewer for a special roast for guests.
Rocking chairs on the screened decks overlook the pool. At the back of each unit is the luxury bathroom with a shower indoors and another private shower outside for those who want to give it a try.
The finishes are white oak floors, towering ceilings, Moroccan tiles, mostly custom furniture and African mahogany entry doors.
The cabins rent starting at $150 a night. The first weekends are already booked, but because the Beatnik is so new, Roxy said they do have some available during Cruisin’ The Coast in October.
Local environmentalist Mark LaSalle is working with Ted Condrey to create a meditation garden under the towering magnolia trees at the back of the site. Natural landscape being planted around the property has berries and seeds for the birds, grape vines along the pool and blueberry bushes out front for guests to munch, LaSalle said.
Vestige chef to add a restaurant
Another garden across the street will supply fresh vegetables and flowers when the owners of the nearby James Beard-nominated Vestige Restaurant — Ocean Springs native Chef Alex Perry and his wife Kumi Omori — open another restaurant at The Collective. The vegetable and flower garden already producing will supply ingredients grown on site.
Roxy said they are bringing businesses together that can feed off each other as a collective. In addition to the hotel and restaurant, in the plans are a bookstore by Dave and Heather Dennison, a nanobrewery and taproom by Trevor Smith and a gym.
For information call 228-285-7424 or email [email protected]
Mary Perez is the business and casino reporter for the Sun Herald and also writes about Biloxi, jobs and the new restaurants and development coming to the Coast. She is a fourth-generation journalist.