Jul. 8--HANCOCK COUNTY -- Silver Slipper Casino has signed an agreement with the Diamondhead Property Owners Association to build a restaurant at the Diamondhead Yacht Club Marina.

Silver Slipper will design, develop and operate a 3,000-square-foot restaurant and bar with a patio deck overlooking the Bay of St. Louis. It will replace the restaurant that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

"It will be a Diamondhead-owned facility," said Mario Feola, newly elected president of the POA, and Silver Slipper will hold a long-term lease. The New England-style architecture will be enhanced with abundant windows and a big open deck overlooking the water, he said.

"We view this as a great opportunity to assist our friends and residents of the Diamondhead community in their rebuilding efforts," said Silver Slipper General Manager John Ferrucci. The Pier House is the working name of the restaurant that will cost between $1.5 million and $2 million to build. He said it will feature nautical decor and casual dining.

Construction is expected to begin soon and the grand opening for the restaurant is planned for July 4, 2009.

"We're pretty excited about it," said Ferrucci. "We just thought it was smart. They're our customers. They're our friends."

Location and timing are everything in the agreement. "We'll have exposure to people up on the highway," who may not have visited the Silver Slipper, Ferrucci said. The casino is more than 10 miles from Interstate 10.

This agreement comes right behind the announcement that Diamondhead Casino will partner with Casinos Austria International Holding to build a casino to the east of the yacht club. Although another developer has purchased property directly to the west of the marina, it is unclear if it qualifies as another casino site.

Ferrucci said Diamondhead POA officials came to Silver Slipper management and said, "We love your restaurants."

Feola said Silver Slipper has "the knowledge and experience that we want and need for this project. It's a win-win situation. Our community will get to enjoy the great food and service that the Slipper is so well known for throughout the Gulf Coast and the Slipper's guests can enjoy our wonderful amenities including golf, tennis, the marina and more."

Silver Slipper was the first land-based casino built on the Coast after Katrina and doesn't have amenities. But Ferrucci said plans for expansion are moving forward. "The design is done," he said, and the company is now going through the permitting process, which they hope to complete in August. Once financing is in place, they can begin building a marina, hotel, two new restaurants, entertainment venue, pool and spa.

"Everybody's anxious to see us get it done," Ferrucci said.

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