Page 41 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2024

Faces of Gulf Coast Restaurant Group
Fresh from the Gulf oysters and à la minute hand-cut ribeyes peppered with elegant touches of New Orleans is exactly what the establishments in the Gulf Coast Restaurant Group do best.
The organization has 15 restaurants across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama including Half Shell Oyster House, Rack House Steaks and Spirits, Southern Pearl Oyster House, Brown’s Corner, and Coast Foods Distributing.
And it’s not just about restaurant soigné for the organization’s leadership team.
CHAD TAYLOR-HENSON
As area director of the Coast region, Chad Taylor-Henson feels one of the best parts
of his job is the opportunity to get involved with the local community and giving back
to those who give so much to our cities. One group in particular means a lot to Chad – supporting first responders. “Our company is a huge promoter of emergency services, and we are always looking at ways to support those that protect the community,” Taylor- Henson said.
Outreach is important to Taylor-Henson, but his focus on his restaurants and team building is where he thrives. He mentioned that he leads his staff daily with trust, hon- esty, and straightforward skills, telling them, “Great things come to those who work for them, no one is going to do it for you.” This is especially true for Taylor-Henson as he started with the company many years ago
as an assistant manager and now oversees operations of four Half Shell Oyster Houses in the Gulf Coast region.
JILL SMITH
Promoting and inspiring kindness is what Jill Smith tries to do each and every day. “Everyone is going through something, so if I can help them have a better day then that’s what I’m going to try to do,” said Smith, the general manager of Rack House Steaks and Spirits on 26th Avenue in Gulfport. “My Christianity has really helped me to be a bet- ter person that I was yesterday.”
And to Smith, supporting local organiza- tions is also extremely important. “One of my favorite parts of my job is working with those in need in our community,” Smith said. Just last month, Smith and her team at the Rack House hosted one of their biggest fundraising events, a Breakfast with Santa benefiting CASA of South Mississippi. “Our community is the reason we get to do what we do, so we will always pour back into that.”
www.halfshelloysterhouse.com www.rackhousesteaks.com
STEPHEN GODFREY
Southern hospitality is at the forefront of Stephen Godfrey’s days as the area director of the Half Shell Oyster House in Gulfport on 13th Street.
“After all, we are the hospitality state,” Godfrey says. “It’s about people. The guests, staff, coworkers, the family we have become, and of course a love for food. I love being able to provide what makes guests happy.” Godfrey added that he also enjoys partici- pating in multi-level events the company sponsors such as school lunches, donations, catering, and community events. You can find Godrrey and his team serving delicious bites at many local events here on the Coast throughout the year.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net January 2024 | 41