Sharkheads Souvenir Shop travels down memory lane, celebrating 50th anniversary

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – Sharkheads is a souvenir shop along Highway 90 in Biloxi. Over the years, it has grown to be a nostalgic Gulf Coast staple.

When traveling, this business is hard to miss thanks to the touch of hot pink and the large shark out front, making it hard for tourists not to stop.

“In the beginning, it was maybe just a few t-shirts and a few souvenirs and stuff like that,” said Joseph Pierotich.

Beach merchandise, galore, and anything else you can think of can be found inside Sharkheads. “Every year we try to expand our product,” Pierotich said. “Year after year make it nicer.”

Owner John Joseph Pierotich better known as JJ said this family business was established back in the 70s by his late father.

“He opened a liquor store in 1973,” Pierotich said. “He opened a gift shop in my aunt’s house behind the liquor store. And that’s where it all began.”

Over the past 50 years, it’s no surprise that this business has changed drastically from the name and even the structure. At one time it was known as Souvenirs and Shells, then Lighthouse Souvenirs, all eventually being destroyed in 2005.

“As we grew and after Katrina when it tore down the big building and the FEMA people made us build in the air,” he said. “We turned it into a whole other situation. We had parking all the way to 90 before Katrina,” said Pierotich. “They took the front and put the service drive. So, we had to build up in the air to have enough parking spots to make the square footage as big as it is.”

Through it all nothing has put a damper on business. Pierotich said people come from all over to shop and explore all they have to offer… like pet hermit crabs and even homemade fudge treats made on the third floor.

So I asked Pierotich, “What’s the secret to having a successful family business for this long?”

Pierotich replied, “Hard work. Just be here all the time. The only day we close is Christmas. And I have two children that grew up in this business since they were born. They both graduated from Ole Miss and are a part of this. I’m going to get emotional, but it’s good.”

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