Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2026

COAST NOTE
SIX DECADES OF CHARM
story by Lynn Lofton
photos courtesy of Kennedy Miazza and by Jim McCloskey
A Gulfport icon is celebrating 60 years of business. Martin and Dot Miazza opened Martin Miazza gift shop on Pass Road in 1966. Their daughter, Kennedy Miazza, carries on the tradition.
She gives their backstory. “They were both from Gulfport
and married in 1953. My father took his GI Bill and studied
at the Sorbonne in Paris, and they lived there for a year. Upon returning to the U.S., they moved to Maryland and lived on the Chesapeake Bay.”
After the birth of their daughter, the Miazzas moved home to Gulfport. “The next step was to decide what they were going to do for a living and ultimately decided on a gift shop,” she said. “My grandparents thought they had lost their minds and never thought it would work out, and my father was quick to say there were some lean times in the early days. They really had nothing to fall back on and were determined to make Martin Miazza a success.”
Kennedy Miazza attributes the store’s longevity to their desire to offer unique things at an affordable price. “It goes without saying, we are believers in beautiful gift wrap and treating everyone the way we want to be treated. Whether you are purchasing a $5 pack of napkins or a $500 platter, you’re going to receive the same service,” she says.
The wedding registries are an important part of the shop. Miazza finds it rewarding to help a young couple choose items for their new life together. “We love being a part of those first traditions and the moments that eventually become family memories,” she said.
Some of the shop’s most popular items are Annieglass, McCarty, Nest fragrances, Julie Vos and Michael Aram to name a few. At Christmas the pewter state ornaments are a hit and hard to keep in stock.
“We keep the store fresh and up to date by constantly bringing in new merchandise and attending several gift markets a year, as well as changing tablescapes frequently,” Miazza says. “We’re a creative group so that adds an element of fun that some stores don’t have.”
Celebrating their 60-year milestone, every third Thursday of
the year, they will showcase one of their established lines with 20 percent off.
“What has always made Martin Miazza special are the people—the dedicated women who work here and the loyal customers who continue to walk through our doors year after year,” she said.
Martin Miazza
1208 Pass Rd., Gulfport 228.863.1252 www.martinmiazza.com
Dot and Martin Miazza
Kennedy Miazza
16 | July 2026
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