The Lamar County Board of Supervisors has adopted a temporary order that will temporarily allow pop-up restaurants to operate in the county, making it easier for residents to get their meals during the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced the closure of dining rooms throughout the area.
The order was adopted unanimously during last week’s board meeting, where supervisors discussed the food trucks that are aiding residents during the crisis by setting up operations in subdivisions such as Bellegrass and Lake Serene.
“And we also have a situation at the corner of Oak Grove Road and Old Highway 11, where a company is wanting to put up a pop-up tent or trailer to deliver food items,” Lamar County Senior Planner Michael Hershman said. “Now, this is a violation of our ordinance, because normally what we require on transient vendors is to come in and get their license, or sometimes it’s a situation where it has to come before the planning commission.
“This has just started up since we’ve essentially been on lockdown because of the coronavirus. So this is an acknowledgement of what is happening, and saying that this is extraordinary times … and we’re going to go ahead and allow it throughout the duration of the emergency order.”
The order applies to only established brick-and-mortar restaurants that possess a food license, as opposed to new start-up establishments.
“If you’re an established restaurant, and you’re taking time to come out in these communities – Mugshots, Sully’s, whatever – we’ll allow that,” board president Warren Byrd said. “If Stonehouse (Restaurant) wants to set up a trailer up across the street from the courthouse after board meetings, and allow people to walk up and walk away, then we’re good with that. And it does have a timeline; whenever this pandemic is over with, it goes away.”
The temporary order also paves the way for measures like Hattiesburg Pop-Up Eats, a new initiative that partners with local restaurants to deliver family-style meals to neighborhoods in the area. Hattiesburg Pop-Up Eats was started in the Bellegrass subdivision by Hattiesburg resident Grace Johnson, co-founder of Bread, an organization that focuses on economic development, brand building, graphic design and culture development, among other endeavors.
“You’ve seen on social media about Pop-Up Eats, so they can come into the neighborhoods in unincorporated areas,” Lamar County Administrator Jody Waits said. “The board is in full support of that, so what they’re doing is passing an emergency order that allows that without permits. The board supports that and their efforts to keep their businesses viable during this time.”
