OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) – Main into Memorial Day weekend, downtown Ocean Springs bars and eating places are gearing up for busy nights forward. These companies are doing so with an additional deal with retaining their clients protected, lower than a month after the mass capturing at The Scratch Kitchen.

“I solely suppose that we are able to keep a tradition of security if we create a tradition of security,” Kenny Williams mentioned.

Williams owns and operates Mosaic together with three different bars and eating places in downtown Ocean Springs. He mentioned making a tradition of security begins with ensuring everyone is on the identical web page.

“I believe we have to collaborate higher as enterprise house owners in sharing communication,” mentioned Williams.

Within the final week, Williams gathered with different downtown enterprise house owners, together with Invoice Yockey from the Rooftop Taco and Tequila Bar. They met with metropolis leaders and brainstormed concepts to forestall future violent incidents.

“If we ask anyone to depart our space, we’re going to ensure that our pals over at Neon Moon or throughout the road at Glory Certain are communicated with and so they talk with us,” mentioned Yockey.

“If we all know anyone will not be the place they’re speculated to be or doing one thing they shouldn’t be doing, we want a approach to share that communication in two methods — not simply with one another, but additionally with native police,” Williams mentioned.

Ideally, the communication could be fast and simple.

“We’re going to attempt to discover an app we are able to all go on so we don’t should make 7 or 8 telephone calls. You may simply go on the app and let everyone know what the issue is,” Yockey mentioned.

Additionally, plans are within the works to have an elevated police presence downtown with extra lighting on the road.

“We’ve requested to mild up the parking lights which might be surrounding Authorities Avenue,” mentioned Yockey. “We really feel like a number of the unhealthy issues that had been occurring had been people who had been partying within the parking tons after which coming into the bars and eating places somewhat additional alongside than they wanted to be.”

Regardless of the latest act of violence at The Scratch Kitchen, Williams is doing the whole lot he can to verify it will likely be an remoted incident.

“That is an intensely protected place, if you happen to take the info over ten to twenty years this can be a actually protected place to be and we need to encourage individuals to return do enterprise in Ocean Springs,” mentioned Williams.

Each Williams and Yockey mentioned they use ID scanners to forestall underage individuals from coming in. Additionally, firearms aren’t allowed inside the companies, safety guards actively look out for firearms and so they take measures to maintain weapons out.

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