New Development in Waveland Reigniting Coleman Ave.

Waveland - May 2024

There is a lot to talk about this month, with the opening of the new Harbor Freight, news on new developments around town, a new restaurant on the horizon, and a special feature on one of Waveland's longest-serving employees.

- by Rhonda Gamble

Looking for your new favorite snowball spot? Bayou Snowballs is now open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Take in beautiful beach and water views while enjoying your sweet treat. Once schools are out for summer break, they will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1-6 pm. Bayou Snowballs has something for you, even if you’re not in the mood for a snowball. They are fully stocked with ice cream, pretzels, corn dogs, and other great treats. Jump on your golf cart or bike, or take a stroll and come down to try them. They even have some traditional flavors without dyes, a perfect option for the little ones. 

​Harbor Freight is now open! If you have not had the chance to check it out yet, you must put it on your list. I am confident they have something you did not know you needed.

On April 30, the Hancock Chamber of Commerce hosted a Coffee Call in the Leo Seal Center. This successful event was hosted by Ted Longo of the Longo Group. Waveland Mayor Jay Trapani and other key players in the new developments, such as Andrew Sheffield of Ashman-Mollere Realty, executives for Express Oil Change, and Nikhil Ajmera, were present to discuss many current and upcoming projects. If you were unable to attend, the Chamber of Commerce will soon post a podcast of the event.

Chef Rickey Peters

Waveland is celebrating a new business coming to Coleman Avenue. I am excited to finally be able to talk about this business since Mayor Trapani broke the news at Coffee Call! Thomas Genin, owner of The Blind Tiger and The Butcher Shop in Bay St. Louis (among other locations), plans to open a restaurant on Coleman in the old C & R’s building. It will be similar to the one in the Depot District with one HUGE exception: this restaurant will feature Coleman Avenue’s favorite chef, Rickey! YES! Rickey is coming back to Coleman Avenue! For those of you who were here before Katrina, you know what a big deal this is. The restaurant will be named as a nod to Rickey. Keep an eye out for announcements about the name and construction updates! 
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Sugar Pop Bakery is one the businesses established on Coleman Avenue already. This hidden gem is the local’s secret sandwich spot, made even sweeter with the option to add dessert. Renee Loranger, Sugar Pop’s owner, has set a new lunch standard with her smash burger that is second to none. The burger is made almost entirely from scratch, including the buns, burger patties, pickles, and mayonnaise. Come hungry, because it is huge! Each week the bakery features a second special sandwich, which varies from a Rueben or muffuletta to steak fajita wraps with homemade salsa. Regardless of the sandwich, it is all fresh and delicious.

Waveland city clerk Lisa Planchard

Waveland would like to take a minute and recognize one of our standout employees, Mrs. Lisa Planchard, City Clerk. Lisa, who has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, came to work for Waveland from Moore & Powell, C.P.A. in February of 1995 as a purchasing agent but soon was promoted to city clerk and comptroller.

Lisa held both of those positions even through Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Two days after the storm, she was back at work in the only building left in Waveland: the fire station on Gulfside Drive. Her “office” was tucked into an open bay and was made up of a folding chair and a TV tray with a piece of paper taped to the front reading “City Hall.”


Being the detailed and efficient city clerk she is, in the days immediately after Katrina, Lisa followed the debris field on foot until she located the file cabinets from her office containing vital documents, many of which would have been irrecoverable otherwise. 


In 2006, Lisa and her husband Mark, a schoolteacher (now retired), decided to relocate to Olive Branch, MS. It was a sad day for Waveland when she resigned. Gone, but certainly not forgotten, it did not take long for city officials to reach out to Lisa to ask if she wanted her old job back. The Planchards moved back to Waveland in 2009 after Lisa accepted her original job as city clerk.


Lisa retired from the City of Waveland in late October 2018. Retirement was relaxing and fun with travel, camping, gardening, and grandchildren. Lisa may have thought she was done working, but Mayor Jay Trapani had a other ideas. He once again asked Lisa to return to work as the city clerk when he took office in January of 2023. She remains in that position today and has worked for a total of six mayors during her tenure at City Hall. Although she settled back in as if she never left, she hopes to retire again by the end of 2026.

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