Page 50 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2024

From to
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The Rise of Glory Bound and The Lady May
story by Joey Lee photo courtesy of Chris McDonald and Will Taylor
In an industry characterized by relentless competition and evolving trends, Chris McDonald and Will Taylor have found the secret recipe for success as owners of two of the most popular restaurants in Ocean Springs, Glory Bound and Lady May.
Their story begins nearly 20 years ago when the pair opened what would eventually become Glory Bound Gyro Co in Hattiesburg, eventually opening the Ocean Springs location in 2018.
“The Coast location was a no-brainer,” McDonald explained. “Ocean Springs was clearly an up and coming hot spot so it piqued our interest.”
The inspiration behind Glory Bound stemmed from a desire to create something original. A research trip to Greece laid the foundation for their menu that blends authentic Mediterranean flavors with a Southern flair.
“We packed up, went to Greece, ate a lot, and came up with
a number of ideas we wanted to bring back and put a little Southern flare on,” McDonald said. “It took a few years to get the brand off its feet, but once we got people to try the gyros and hummus, they started coming back.”
The Lady May, a tribute to a grandmother’s love, or more importantly, her cooking, materialized from an idea the duo had been kicking around for a number of years. They created a menu filled with meals fusing traditional Mississippi comfort foods with Cajun delicacies.
“Once we started basing the restaurant around granny, we then started decorating with wallpaper, thrifting for old dishes and other things to really bring it all together,” Taylor said. “Opening The Lady May was a breath of fresh air as we were 12 years into Glory Bound, it was nice to do something different.”
Some of Glory Bound’s most popular dishes include cheese rolls, the pepperjack gyro, and all flavors of hummus. At The Lady May, customers enjoy the fried chicken, the bacon jam
burger, biscuit Monica, shank and eggs and hand-crafted desserts that change weekly.
Pro tip: get some of
the home made Moon Pies to go and put them in your freezer, they’re great fresh and frozen!
Both Taylor and
McDonald are excited
to play such a pivotal
role in Ocean Springs’
development and
success. “There are so
many great things about Ocean Springs,” Taylor said. “The current state of the town, especially the downtown area is fun to be a part of. There are so many complimenting businesses that make the city so special.”
Moreover, their entrepreneurial journey has evolved beyond brick-and-morter establishments with the inception of The Lady May Tallow Company, catering to a global clientele through e-commerce ventures.
Looking ahead, the pair have a new restaurant concept in the works for Ocean Springs. The duo was reluctant to divulge too many details, but customers can be on the lookout for another completely unique shop, based on one of their favorite movies, opening in the fall.
Their belief in pushing boundaries and staying true to their roots ensures that they remain on the forefront of innovation. “We’ve always tried to push the envelope as much as we could,” said McDonald. “We love being as unique as possible.”
For the partners, the culinary odyssey continues, fueled by passion, innovation and an unwavering commitment to culinary fusion.
50 | May 2024
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Will Taylor and Chris McDonald.