Kenny Williams: The Artful Restaurateur Behind Ocean Springs’ Hottest Spots

Laura Kuhn
4 days ago
6 min read

A Community-Driven Visionary with an Old Soul and the Heart of a Saint

When you think of downtown Ocean Springs, you probably picture charming oak-lined streets, hip boutiques, buzzing art galleries—and a nightlife that’s as creative as the city itself. At the center of that scene? Kenny Williams.

He’s not just a familiar face—he’s the visionary behind some of Ocean Springs’ most iconic food and drink destinations:

Evergreen
Mosaic Restaurant & Bar
Red Apple Lounge
Neon Moon
Lost Springs Brewing Company
Eleven Cocktail Lounge

If you’ve sipped, danced, or dined at any of these spots, you’ve experienced his signature blend of Southern hospitality, vintage soul, and community-first spirit.

From New Orleans to Ocean Springs

Kenny’s story begins in New Orleans, where he was born and raised before attending Saint Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis. He later retired from a globe-trotting career and moved with his wife Susie and their two children, Jacob and Emma, to Ocean Springs in 2017.

“I’ve never been off my whole life, but for Ocean Springs, well, it’s special,” he said. “I can never repay this town or the Gulf Coast for what it’s done for my family.”

Jacob is now studying biomedical engineering at Ole Miss, and Emma is making waves at Ocean Springs High School through dance, leadership, and engineering clubs.

Building a Flavor-Filled Empire

Kenny didn’t waste time bringing his creativity to the community. What started with Mosaic, a lively fusion of global flavors and live music, quickly expanded.

Neon Moon blends country music nostalgia with a moody modern twist.
Lost Springs Brewing Company offers small-batch beers with Gulf Coast character—think "Mississippi Hippie" and "Red Eye."
Red Apple Lounge is a love letter to Tarantino films, filled with vintage Hollywood flair.
Evergreen serves up innovative Southern cuisine in an eccentric, stylish setting.
Eleven Cocktail Lounge focuses on refined craft cocktails in a sleek, immersive atmosphere.

All are uniquely different, yet share Kenny’s signature touch: warm, soulful, and a little bit retro.

A Philosophy of Rising Tides

While Kenny’s passion for design and flavor is obvious, what truly sets him apart is his dedication to uplifting others. “Rising tides raise all the boats,” he often says.

He actively supports other restaurateurs across the Coast—from James Beard-nominated chefs to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. You’ll often find him collaborating, cheering on new businesses, and sharing advice freely.

In the January 2025 issue of Faces of South Mississippi, meet Kenny Williams—the creative force behind some of Ocean Springs’ most iconic destinations, including Mosaic, Evergreen, Red Apple Lounge, and more. Known for his soulful style, community-first mindset, and passion for hospitality, Kenny is more than a restaurateur—he’s a visionary shaping the city’s cultural and culinary landscape. Discover his journey from New Orleans to the Coast, his family roots, and the rising tide philosophy driving his success.

Faces of South Mississippi

Kenny Williams: The Artful Restaurateur

A Community Forward Entrepreneur with a Stirring Old Soul and the Heart of a Saint

Story by Cherie Ward | Photo by Arielle Victoria

When you think about downtown Ocean Springs, a few things come to mind – live oak canopied streets, luxury clothing stores, and eye-catching art galleries. If you know the downtown nightlife well, you’re no doubt well acquainted with cocktail and lounge mainstays like Evergreen, Mosaic Restaurant & Bar, Red Apple Lounge, Neon Moon, Lost Springs Brewing Company, and Eleven Cocktail Lounge.

And if you’re a downtown expert, you just might know Kenny Williams. He’s the can’t-miss visionary, community advocate, and the mastermind restaurateur behind those popular social and award-winning destinations who often sports a kaleidoscope wardrobe complete with vintage accessories.

“I love Morris Day more than any other musician,” Williams said. “He was in ‘Purple Rain’ and I just wished I could be one-tenth as cool as he was.”

Williams, his wife, Susie, and their children, Jacob and Emma, made Ocean Springs home in 2017. He retired from overseas and his industry after spending most of his career overseas and the family was looking to settle in a dynamic small town. The City of Discovery seemed like a good fit.

Nebraska Williams, who was born in New Orleans, has deep Mississippi Gulf Coast roots.

He graduated from Saint Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis in 1984 and his mother and stepfather, Greg and Elianne Dickinson, worked for a time at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula as a nurse and draftskeeper. His father, Del C. Williams, was an offensive guard for the New Orleans Saints for seven years in the late 60s and early 70s.

“I’ve never been off my own life, but for Ocean Springs, well, it’s special,” he said. “I can never repay the town of Ocean Springs and the Mississippi Gulf Coast for what they’ve done for me and my family.”

Jacob headed to the University of Mississippi and is currently a junior majoring in biomedical engineering and biochemistry; Emma, an Ocean Springs High School senior, is immersed in the Mississippi Youth Council, the Vikette Dance Team, and the school’s Superintendent’s Committee. She will follow in her brother’s Ole Miss footsteps to study civil engineering.

Soon you’ll have two Ocean Springs High School graduates, which is the coolest thing in the world,” Williams said.

Williams, Ru and Pam “Lil bit” Ishee, and two chefs from the late TatoNut Barajas, “We loved it, but as restaurateurs we wanted people to know there was an Ocean Springs flavor in the 394 kind of place,” he said.

Neon Moon, which is a nod to the classic country song, soon followed, with Williams and co-owner Jonathan Keith opening Lost Springs Brewing Company in April for a craft on the venue’s taps. He is also the majority owner in both of these ventures. Lost Springs is the smallest brewery in the Magnolia State and home to beer brands 1699, the Mississippi Hippie, Red Eye, and Porter Retreat. Red Apple came next and is a tribute to filmmaker Quentin Tarantino with retro touches and a seriously old Hollywood gangster vibe.

“I grew up in the French Quarter and saw those old guys in great suits,” he said. “I kind of studied men. They were gamblers, shysters, and hustlers but also interesting, smart, and funny. They knew how to talk, and a guy once told me they all had their early jail photo in their wallet.”

Eleven is a chef-driven cocktail venue while Evergreen is an eccentric space that fuses deconstructed southern cuisine with a modern twist.

But as demanding and rewarding as his businesses are, Williams has a remarkable approach to restaurant social skills and believes in wholeheartedly supporting other establishments.

“Rising tides rise all the boats,” he said. “Ocean Springs and the Gulf Coast work better when we work together. In Ocean Springs, we have Alex Perry’s Vestige which was nominated as the best restaurant in the United States last year by the James Beard Foundation. In Biloxi, you’ve got Austin Sumrall at White Pillars and Jeffrey Hansell with a nomination too. And we have WIll Kestler over at the Radisson in Long Beach. So many great chefs on the Gulf Coast and we are all on the same page.”

Williams says Ocean Springs is the best financial position it’s ever been in thanks to local government.

“COVID was deeply handled and in a pro-business way with reasonable development that takes into account the concerns and needs of the local citizens. They are doing the job we need them to do, and they are doing it well.”

So, what will Williams serve up next in downtown Ocean Springs? He already has connections with future trailblazing restaurateurs and entrepreneurs like Jeff Taylor of the beer brand Glory Bound Gyro Company, The Lady May, bringing grace at Cash Alley Collective and The Chief Bar & Lounge.

“We should raise a glass to announce everything in the Ocean Springs District,” he said. “Ocean Springs and the entire Coast forward is forever in on this menu.”

What’s Next for Kenny Williams?

Even with a full plate, Kenny’s not slowing down. He’s already working with the next generation of talent, including Glory Bound Gyro Company’s Jeff Taylor and the team behind The Lady May and Cash Alley Collective. The future of Ocean Springs nightlife? It’s already in motion—and Kenny’s hand is guiding it.

“We should raise a glass to announce everything in the Ocean Springs District,” he says. “Ocean Springs and the entire Coast forward is forever in on this menu.”