Ed Inman
| Special to the Hattiesburg American
Electric vehicle enthusiasts from throughout south Mississippi will gather Sunday, June 30, at Hattiesburg’s Mahogany Bar and Crescent City Grill to celebrate the installation of four new on-site chargers for patrons to use while enjoying their food and beverages.
Called “Charge Together,” the event is being promoted as a “charge and chat” and is co-sponsored by EV Mississippi, a non-profit group that seeks to promote the use of electric vehicles through education and outreach.
The event will kick off at 2 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Sunday.
On display will be several new Tesla Cybertrucks as well as other recently unveiled electric vehicles. There will also be food and themed cocktail and mocktails available for purchase.
Crescent City owner Robert St. John said the installation will mark the first time a full-service restaurant and bar in the Hattiesburg area has offered an electric vehicle charging service.
“It is said that businesses can’t be all things to all people, and I guess that’s true. But we can be as many things to as many people as makes sense within our concept and dynamic,” St. John said.
As electric vehicles have increased in popularity, he said he believes it makes “perfect sense” to have EV charging stations at restaurants in 2024.
Simeon Williford, who serves as St. John’s executive assistant, said the units are “Level 2” chargers, which will allow motorists to travel between 30 and 40 miles following a one-hour charge. The decision to install them followed discussions with EV Mississippi co-founder Josh Hazel who noted that there was an increasing need for such a station in that area of town.
Mary-Frances Garner, a publicist for New South Restaurant Group, said the event will be set up like an outdoor block party.
“It is free to attend and there will be lots of EV enthusiasts on hand from throughout the area to share their knowledge and answer questions,” she said.
In a region where there are currently only a limited number of chargers available, the installation is expected to bring potential growth to the Hattiesburg community and economy, Garner said.
As a side note, the four chargers are being named after the four Beatles: John, Paul, Ringo and George, and there will be recorded music on hand by the Beatles and other classic rock artists at the event.
“Robert is a huge Beatles fan,” Williford said.
In addition to promoting knowledge about electric vehicles, EV Mississippi seeks to advance initiatives that positively affect the environment and works to assist in the development of infrastructure and resources by addressing public policy issues, which impact the future of the EV community.
The fast-growing group currently has 549 members on their Facebook page and is currently offering $50 raffle tickets to win a new electric vehicle of your choice.
“We will have a limited number of 1,500 tickets sold and the winner will be announced at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the EV Mississippi fall event,” Hazel said.
That drawing will be held in front of the PetSmart at 6143 U.S. 98.
A Hattiesburg staple since 1990, Crescent City Grill is a Creole-inspired eatery serving fresh gulf fish, oysters and shrimp with other New Orleans-inspired fare including seafood gumbo, shrimp po-boys, and crawfish etouffee. The Mahogany Bar is an elevated cocktail spot offering an extensive whiskey list with over 200 bourbons and over 100 beers, including those from all nine Mississippi breweries.
The establishments are conveniently located between U.S. 49 and Interstate 59 at 3810 Hardy St., Hattiesburg.
