3 ways to enjoy the newly reopened Bienville Square

In case you missed it, Bienville Square has officially reopened in downtown Mobile. The iconic park and its equally iconic fountain were restored and repaired after Hurricane Sally toppled a few trees and caused other damage in the park.

Now that it’s back open for business, let’s explore the facelift and three ways you can enjoy it.

Major facelift

Construction to repair damage left in the wake of Hurricane Sally took just under nine months, starting in August and closing the park for Mardi Gras 2024. Along with general repairs, a few new things were added to the park, like:

• Improved lighting along walkways
• New pavers designed to withstand strong storms
• Renovated Ketchum Fountain
• Addition of a “seat wall”
• New landscaping

Take a look for yourself:

Ways to enjoy the park

Part of the beauty of Bienville Square is its location. It’s within walking distance of entertainment venues like Soul Kitchen and PUSH Cinema and is flanked by locally-owned shops and restaurants. With that in mind, there’s plenty to do in and around Bienville Square, so let’s explore three non-Mardi Gras options.

1. Lunch outside

There’s no better way to soak up this gorgeous South Alabama spring weather than a picnic outside. Bienville Square is a great spot for that. Order takeout from a nearby restaurant or pack something from home, just be on the lookout that the Bienville Square Squirrels don’t swipe your snacks!

Here are a few restaurants nearby that we’d recommend for a bite:

• Mama’s on Dauphin: Southern-style brunch with delicious cajun options + amazing sides.
  • Address: 220 Dauphin St #2718, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 11AM-2:30PM | Closed weekends
  • Contact: Website | 251-432-6262
• Serda’s Coffee Company: locally roasted coffee with tons of yummy food options.
  • Address: 3 S Royal St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 6AM-8PM, Sat: 7AM-8PM, Sun: 7AM-6PM
  • Contact: Facebook | 251-415-3000
• Slurp Society: A South Alabama twist on ramen, bao + other light bites
  • Address: 69 St Michael St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11AM-9PM | Fri & Sat: 11AM-10PM | Closed Sun.
  • Contact: Website | 251-303-8400

2. Shopping!

Bienville Square is surrounded by some pretty cool and unique shops you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you want to get a head start on Mother’s Day shopping or treat yourself, here are a few stores to browse:

• Elsewhere Clothing Store: a newer vintage co-op marketplace
  • Address: 70 N Joachim St UNIT F, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Thur-Sun: 11AM-6PM | Closed Mon-Wed.
  • Contact: Instagram
• Citrus & Cane: hand-poured, soy wax candles with gorgeous scent blends.
  • Address: 260 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 10AM-6PM | Sat: 9AM-5PM | Closed Sun.
  • Contact: Website | 251-272-9819
• Urban Emporium: collective marketplace with a variety of fun stuff from handmade jewelry to antique home goods.
  • Address: 260 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 10AM-6PM | Sat: 9AM-5PM | Closed Sun.
  • More info: Website | 251-441-8044

3. Get some work done

Bienville Square has free WiFi, paid for by the City of Mobile. Between the internet access and shady spots under the oak trees, Bienville Square is a great spot to get some work done between meetings. In fact, I got this article published from Bienville Square!

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