Seagrove Village Market Café Is A Happy Beach Tradition

When George and Ann Hartley bought the Seagrove Village Market Café in July 1999, they knew they were buying a piece of h



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[Lake View Too]

The Seagrove Village Market is an "institution". I've been going there since I was seven years old. It was Thornton's Grocery, at that time. It was about the only place to get gas between Destin and Panama City Beach. It later became Russell's Grocery. After awhile , it was called Junie's, when it was being run by Cube McGee Jr.'s wife. I believe they started the kitchen then, and began to sell T-shirts and stuff. It was the go-to place for construction guys to go for breakfast and lunch. That kept on while it was "Ernie's". Locals could start a tab, which they wrote down on notebook paper, until guys like me and Foley kept running it up too high. They cut us off. But we still came for the burgers and fish sandwiches. When the Hartleys took it over, not a whole lot changed. They expanded the porch, and brought in better T-shirts. Not much groceries sold anymore, just good food and hospitality. It's still the landmark center of Seagrove.

 

[Kurt]

Publix killed the groceries.

Any ideas where they will move to "nearby"?

 

[Lake View Too]

The original plan of the Viridian Hotel was to have a combination of condo/hotel rooms, above, and some retail shops on the ground floor. A continuation of the Seagrove Village Market was planned to occupy one of those spaces. The original charm would, probably, not be salvageable, but perhaps a new charm might emerge. I'm not sure there is any nearby space available that would fit the bill.

 

[Dawn]

The original plan of the Viridian Hotel was to have a combination of condo/hotel rooms, above, and some retail shops on the ground floor. A continuation of the Seagrove Village Market was planned to occupy one of those spaces. The original charm would, probably, not be salvageable, but perhaps a new charm might emerge. I'm not sure there is any nearby space available that would fit the bill.

I noticed in the story and video it mentions that it will be moving to a place nearby. Makes more sense really.

 

[Matt J]

Opposite the V?

 

[Lake View Too]

I'm afraid that doesn't seem likely. "Highest and best use",and all that kind of stuff, Besides , I like it better as a gigantic grove of trees...like a, um, "seagrove". A good spot might be to take over "Pickets", most likely zoned commercial.

 

[Matt J]

Pickets has no parking, where will the cars go?

 

[Lake View Too]

Parking? We don't need no stinkin' parking!! (Where are they parking now?) Seriously, the Viridian Hotel, from day one, has been planning for underground parking. How practical is that? Seems a bit radical to me. But there were a ton of naysayers when the V was built, and now it's wonderful symbol of progress in Seagrove.

 

[justhavinfun]

They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot!!