Brah Ha Surf Shop recieved a disturbing letter from Gulf Place Resort.(our store is in Gulf Place) Gulf Place Resort does not want "local teens on the grounds or they will call the sheriff", local teens are part of our surf team and surf club. Gulf Place Home Assoc. thinks our shop is an eyesore. Gulf Place is instructing us to tell our customers to be courteous when on the grounds. What does all this mean? A lot of our customers are moms and dads and grandparents. Our surfboards have to come down off the balconies because they are distracting the charm of the townhomes. (the balcony is where my 4 kids keep thier boards) I don't get it. What is happening to the genuine spirit of this community? My kids don't do drugs, they make straight A's in school and love the sport of surfing. All thier friends live in this community and share the same love of surfing and are great kids. I'm just afraid that these kids will lose that positive energy and drive by all this negative feedback. Thank you for reading this. I'm Peggy Mall, owner of Brah Ha and a proud mom of four super kids!
Replies
40SoWal Expert
Several of you touched on it -- It is "people," not buildings, who make a community. In too many developments, people are absent. Let's keep the people in our wonderful communities in Walton County.
Beach Fanatic
You know, you never hear any news out of Gulf Place that is good. I'd say, regrettably, that when the lease runs out, Brah Ha should move somewhere more tolerant. Your customers will follow, they are there to see you, not because they want to visit Gulf Place.
Beach Lover
But Gulf Place 's Town Center is not just about convenience. The charm of a commercial area created with pedestrians in mind, coupled with the spectacular beach views from its verdant park and sweeping boulevard, celebrates the best in community design.
Sounds like a design flaw lol
Sounds like a design flaw lol
Beach Fanatic
Brah Ha Surf Shops customers happen to also be local business people, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, real-estate agents, artists, ext....
Ed Berry
Owner
For The Health Of IT
teachers...

Beach Fanatic
Congrats Brah Ha! It seems once you begin to get successful on 3oA someone begins to complain about you. If I remember correctly you own at Gulf Place so take a look at your CCR's. If you are breaking no rules stand your ground and hire a local attorney if you need to. A letter back to the "resort" from your attorney may be helpful. You have a great group of kids and the Brah Ha surf group has helped inspire this old surf dog to surf a lot more for which I am forever grateful. I find all the Brah Ha guys and gals to be extremely polite and respectful.
It always amazes me how people fear what they don't know! I feel many will have your back on this issue so please keep us posted.
Hello..... Anyone out there? We would like our community back! :shock:
It always amazes me how people fear what they don't know! I feel many will have your back on this issue so please keep us posted.
Hello..... Anyone out there? We would like our community back! :shock:
Edited
Beach Fanatic
my husband and i are "older" but not retired - still work. we think it is wonderful that your shop is part of our community. in fact, it has been very difficult to deal with the decline of the area due to all the flipping in real estate that left alot of houses/condos uninhabited and investors broke. a surf shop is just the type of shop we need here. we sometimes bring our retired greyhound to walk in gulf place and have never witnessed any teenagers out of hand. gulf place needs some energy - basically, almost everything is owned by one person!!! keep plugging away, and don't let the grumpy people get you down!!
Edited
Meow
Congrats Brah Ha! It seems once you begin to get successful on 3oA someone begins to complain about you. If I remember correctly you own at Gulf Place so take a look at your CCR's. If you are breaking no rules stand your ground and hire a local attorney if you need to. A letter back to the "resort" from your attorney may be helpful. You have a great group of kids and the Brah Ha surf group has helped inspire this old surf dog to surf a lot more for which I am forever grateful. I find all the Brah Ha guys and gals to be extremely polite and respectful.
It always amazes me how people fear what they don't know! I feel many will have your back on this issue so please keep us posted.
Hello..... Anyone out there? We would like our community back! :shock:
I have followed this thread and it makes me shake my head. Thanks to Bobby J for summing it up.
Beach Fanatic
The complaint is this, The developers torn down some of the largest dunes in the county and destroyed one of the larger Eco systems around to build Gulf SPACE! Gulf place has tried every avenue around to get Business so now they are down to their last idea. Bad publicity will get people to drive through to see what is going on so in a sense Bra Ha's business will probably go up. They are using Paris Hilton tactics now. Oh yea Skateboarding is not a Crime!!!!! I betting the owner of one of the new poser shops lives in Gulf SPACE but that is another of my conspiracy theories. Aloha!
Beach Fanatic
I just don't understand these attitudes. The other weekend, when I went to Pier Park( along with thousands of people) for the Jazz Festival, I kept thinking how sad it is that Walton County let such a great event get away from us. Not only the revenue loss, but the loss of such positive energy.
I know they said it was a space issue--but, I have to think that the complaining about the noise was part of the reason for moving...now, Gulf Place is complaining about a Surf Shop and the young people who are into surfing...That is unbelievable!
We are living on the beach--surfers are some of the most friendly, helpful, and capable people to have around! I just don't get it.
You know, there are some retirement communities down in Central Florida that are very quiet and do not have any surfers....
Well, let's try this one again. I commented on this thread when it was first posted but it seems to have been moderated.
My comment was...Is it really the people of Gulfplace or the self appointed defender of the noise ordinance and anything else he wants to stick his nose into that lives over that way stirring things up. I feel that there are several people who enjoy speaking for everyone in GP who do not actually represent anyone. While I know that there were other factors in moving the Seabreeze Jazz Festival to Pier Park, the actions of GP and some of its residents surely made the move guilt free for the organizers. I'm sure the three or four days of JF may seem like a pain for some during the event but I bet that pain is easier to bare when your sitting there counting the green backs that were dropped over the weekend as a result of all the peeps that attended.
All in all, you moved to a commercial site, yes they sell condos but you bought into a "village" of sorts...deal with it.
Beach CrabAuthor
From the Brah Ha Crew, we greatly appreciate all your support!! This is what a real community is all about. Your support has given us a boost of positive energy to keep on truckin'....
Much Love!!
Much Love!!
Beach Comber
local support.
My 6 year old son likes to surf and hang out at Bra Ha. I think the surfboards on the balcony add genuine charm to the whole place. Maybe they would like it if they were fake surfboards? We're at the beach! People surf and enjoy the outdoors here.
I live in Gulf Place and I'm going to put my ugly old surfboard on the balcony to protest. Maybe even a kayak or two. Ok maybe just the board. Kayaks are heavy.
I can't believe all the empty places here and they pick on a tenant that is in business. Why drive a business away that is attracting traffic to this comerce dead zone. Perhaps they should put theyre efforts towards attracting more tenants and business. Not driving them away.
My 6 year old son likes to surf and hang out at Bra Ha. I think the surfboards on the balcony add genuine charm to the whole place. Maybe they would like it if they were fake surfboards? We're at the beach! People surf and enjoy the outdoors here. I live in Gulf Place and I'm going to put my ugly old surfboard on the balcony to protest. Maybe even a kayak or two. Ok maybe just the board. Kayaks are heavy.
I can't believe all the empty places here and they pick on a tenant that is in business. Why drive a business away that is attracting traffic to this comerce dead zone. Perhaps they should put theyre efforts towards attracting more tenants and business. Not driving them away.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
My 6 year old son likes to surf and hang out at Bra Ha. I think the surfboards on the balcony add genuine charm to the whole place. Maybe they would like it if they were fake surfboards? We're at the beach! People surf and enjoy the outdoors here.
I live in Gulf Place and I'm going to put my ugly old surfboard on the balcony to protest. Maybe even a kayak or two. Ok maybe just the board. Kayaks are heavy.
I can't believe all the empty places here and they pick on a tenant that is in business. Why drive a business away that is attracting traffic to this comerce dead zone. Perhaps they should put theyre efforts towards attracting more tenants and business. Not driving them away.
Well said. Couldn't agree more! I love your plan for solidarity!
Surf Boards rule in Gulf Place

Beach Fanatic
Can I suggest that you ask the other businesses in Gulf Place where they stand on the issue. Pass along those who want the kids around and the community look and feel of your shop to remain. I am certain those shops will find members of this community shopping or dining with them and recommending them to our visitors.
Likewise, let us know those who want the kids and the boards gone and I am certain they will be made to understand what an economic impact their intolerance can bring to their own registers. The individuals who have business elsewhere in the area can also feel the benefit or detriment of their choice.
I came here to be in a small community where my kids could dig in and know that they have friends and allies in the older crowd. The community we came from ripped their skate park down just two years after building it for them, refusing to find alternatives and citing the same thing, teens are a blight on the community and should be kept hidden from the eyes of "real consumers."
Trust me, I don't behave half as well as my kids or their friends and I spend a heck of a lot more money on 30A than all of them combined. I have no problem walking out of a shop or restaurant that does not support my community (after making it clear to them why me and my money are going elsewhere).
Likewise, let us know those who want the kids and the boards gone and I am certain they will be made to understand what an economic impact their intolerance can bring to their own registers. The individuals who have business elsewhere in the area can also feel the benefit or detriment of their choice.
I came here to be in a small community where my kids could dig in and know that they have friends and allies in the older crowd. The community we came from ripped their skate park down just two years after building it for them, refusing to find alternatives and citing the same thing, teens are a blight on the community and should be kept hidden from the eyes of "real consumers."
Trust me, I don't behave half as well as my kids or their friends and I spend a heck of a lot more money on 30A than all of them combined. I have no problem walking out of a shop or restaurant that does not support my community (after making it clear to them why me and my money are going elsewhere).
Beach Fanatic
No "thanks button", so thanks.
I don't have teens, but I do have grandchildren, and I feel the same as above. If people want a children free environment, then they should move to one of those "no one under 55 places"!
I don't have teens, but I do have grandchildren, and I feel the same as above. If people want a children free environment, then they should move to one of those "no one under 55 places"!
Beach Lover
Anti kids, anti family, anti fun, anti surfing.....
= anti American
= anti American
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.