South MS ‘property brothers’ creating new restaurants, hotels and even their own brand

They could be the Coast version of the HGTV Property Brothers — with a twist.

Where the TV Property Brothers buy and renovate homes, the Nicaud brothers build and restore commercial buildings for hotels, apartments and shops and for restaurants that turn out fine food and drinks in memorable locations across South Mississippi.

They’re young and ambitious. Jourdan is 34. Field is 28.

Together they already built a hospitality dynasty. Now their development portfolio has its own brand — “Eat, Play, Stay” on the Secret Coast . The brand website promotes the Nicaud Restaurant Group and Secret Coast Management that oversees their vacation and home developments in downtowns and near the beach.

“Our goal is and has always been to bring people to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We love the Gulf Coast. We see how beautiful it is and how it is truly the best place in the world to live or vacation,” Jourdan said.

The brothers’ next collaboration is Toro Sushi & Saki, scheduled to open in early August in downtown Bay St. Louis, with a rooftop bar that boasts a view of the sunset and water. Also on the way are two Italian restaurants that are part of larger Nicaud developments in Pass Christian and Ocean Springs.

Working together

Jourdan was building an impressive bio as an intern for U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering and U.S. Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran and a student at Tulane University in New Orleans studying medicine when he chose to follow his dream. He left school and he opened his first restaurant , Bacchus on the Beach, in his hometown of Pass Christian when he was 21.

Whether or not it was in the long-term plan, “Field and I have always worked together, ever since he was washing dishes at Bacchus in high school,” his big brother said. It took awhile for them to form their partnership.

While Jourdan was opening restaurants and a hotel on the Coast, Field went off to University of Mississippi, and then on to ICE, the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Between classes, Field trained with some of the best chefs in the New York and later in Philadelphia.

With his knowledge, skills and technique, Field returned to South Mississippi and joined his brother in business.

Filling the gaps

They’ve changed course along the way, selling one business, opening another.

Recently they brought back Chef Lauren Joffrion to help open their new Toro Sushi & Sake , a high-end Asian fusion restaurant at 108 Court St. in Bay St. Louis.

“I love sushi and I love Asian food ,” Jourdan said, “and there was nowhere in the area that had what I was looking for.”

So they created the upscale restaurant they wanted for themselves, and what they believe will appeal to others. The menu is sectioned into soups and salads, sushi rolls and small plates like crab rangoon spring rolls and wagyu tacos. Among the large plates will be hot chicken chili, Korean barbecue fish and lobster and shrimp.

“We’re just trying to fill the gaps,” Jourdan said. “Anything we can do to make the area better and stronger — we do.”

A taste of Italy

“We have always wanted to bring new concepts and ideas to the Gulf Coast that we see elsewhere,”Jourdan said, “and bring people from outside the Coast to the area to experience what we have to offer and to bring things that we want to experience.”

Soon the Nicauds will add a taste of Italy to their collection of Cajun, Asian, steak and seafood restaurants.

“The Italian restaurant is a new concept that we are doing under the Field’s brand,” Jourdan said. Two Field’s Steak & Oyster Bar restaurants are in downtown Bay St. Louis and in the Coast’s oldest hotel they restored in downtown Biloxi.

“It will be a family style restaurant with large-portion pastas and salads,” he said. “We will have a selection of flatbreads, housemade raviolis, bolognese, chicken Parmesan and of course, our grandmother’s recipes for meatballs.

“It will have a wine list selected by a sommelier who specializes in Italian wines from chiantis to barolos,” he said, “and an amazing charcuterie board that will change monthly based on local cheeses and cured meats based on availability.”

The first will open at The Artisian Hotel under construction next to Rooftop Taco & Tequila Bar in downtown Ocean Springs. Over the restaurant will be eight rooms for vacation rentals, which they hope to have ready in time for Cruisin’ The Coast in early October.

Big boost for Coast towns

The other Field’s Italian Restaurant will open in Pass Christian in Pass Bungalows mixed use resort right in the center of town at Market Street and Scenic. Drive. This 36-room hotel is expected to open in 2025, Jourdan said, with a swim-up bar in the pool and other amenities. In addition to Field’s Italian Restaurant, it will have a Bacchus Cafe, an ice cream parlor and shops selling gifts, jewelry and men’s clothing.

The Nicaud family is building more lodging and home sites in the Pass:

▪ Cottages by the Gulf luxury townhouses with a mix of short- and long-term rentals opened in March a block from the beach

▪ The Beach House is nearly complete in downtown Pass Christian, across from Hancock Bank, with two one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units and views of the beach.

▪ St. Paul’s Center, in the middle of Pass Christian. will be a beach style resort for short- and long-term stays

▪ Trinity Park subdivision with 36 home sites at U.S. 90 and Henderson

The Nicauds are building on land that has been vacant since Hurricane Katrina and Mayor Jimmy Rafferty said, “I think they’re doing a wonderful thing for Pass Christian.” The development is bringing jobs, tourists and new restaurants, he said, all increase tax revenue in the city.

Pascagoula will see a similar boost from development planned by the Nicaud brothers, said Mayor Jay Willis. The $14.6 million Ice House mixed use development will restore an historic ice house that has sat empty since a fire in 2012. Preliminary plans are for a hotel, two restaurants, a strip mall and eventually a bank and luxury townhouses close to downtown at the gateway to the city.

“Pass Christian is home and where my wife and I are going to raise our children,”Jourdan said. The goal with local development across the three Coast counties, he said, is to add adventures, to help raise taxes that help local police and fireman and to bring people to the area “to show off how amazing it is.”