Can South Walton Support all of the Restaurants?

[Smiling JOe]

A few days ago, someone told me that there were more than 15 newly opened restaurants in South Walton. I thought, "WOW!" I started counting, and it was easy enough to count 15, and then some. I know of at least two more planned to open soon. I made a list below of some of them below. Before all of these opened, I watched many restaurateurs struggle to stay in business. I love competition, as it gives us buyers more options and maybe better deals, but I hate to see people invest so much into a business, knowing the history of business failures. Let's hope that there is enough money being spent in South Walton to keep them all fat and happy, but I just don't see it. Do you?

Senior Mohitos (on the Bay)
Cafe Bouchee
Shorty's
BallyWoo
Pickles (the pizza place)
Haus of Klaus
Barefoot BBQ
QueenBee Cupcakes
Pizza Bar
Lake Place
Bayou Bill's (hwy 98 rebuild)
PJ's (second location WaterColor)
new mexican restaurant next to Flip Flops
Paradis
JC's Off the Hook
Johnny McTigh's
snow cone place in Uptown Grayton

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, a lot have opened lately (which surprised me too given the economy), but many were "replacements" for other restaurants, so there aren't as many "new" places to up the total count IMO.

Senior Mohitos (on the Bay) - replaced Balls Out, which replaced Seabar
Cafe Bouchee - replaced Yanni's
Shorty's - replaced D&K's
BallyWoo - replaced Snapperheads, Salty Dog
Pickles (the pizza place) - replaced the Thai place
Haus of Klaus - replaced Fun in the Bun
Pizza Bar - replaced Spiazza
Lake Place - replaced itself
Bayou Bill's (hwy 98 rebuild) - replaced itself
PJ's (second location WaterColor) - replaced Starbucks
JC's Off the Hook - replaced Nick's

 

[Smiling JOe]

Yes, many were replacements of other restaurants which couldn't make it. That is the sign. I wonder if the new tenants ever asked the previous business why they thought they failed.

 

[Here4Good]

When I got out my Spring 2008 phone book the other day to look up a restaurant, I counted 15 that weren't in business anymore.

I am glad to see so many casual-type, reasonably priced places opening up. Maybe this is because of the soft RE market, are landlords not charging ridiculous rates anymore, or perhaps a response to vacationers tightening purse strings?

It used to be that I had at least five good answers to "It's our anniversary, where can we go to celebrate?" and maybe one or two to "Where can we grab a burger without it costing us an arm and a leg?", but there are more choices now.

 

[Here4Good]

And, I know I'm doing my part by trying the new places as fast as I can! So far:

Senior Mohitos (on the Bay)
Shorty's
Pickles (the pizza place)
JC's Off the Hook
snow cone place in Uptown Grayton
Re-opened Stinky's


Still to do:
Cafe Bouchee (especially now that they have dinner)
BallyHoo
Haus of Klaus
Lake Place
Bayou Bill's (hwy 98 rebuild)
PJ's (second location WaterColor)
Coyote (new mexican restaurant next to Flip Flops)
Johnny McTigh's

Probably won't get to:
QueenBee Cupcakes (don't eat sweets)
Pizza Bar (don't do Seaside restaurants in the summer)
Barefoot BBQ (ditto)
Paradis (already have too many favorite upscale places I haven't been to in months)

 

[Lynnie]

I certainly hope they can all be supported with great success!

 

[Green Knight]

It's Darwinism...the strongest will survive...and absolutely agree with the poster who said there are now "reasonable" places opening on 30A that you can take the family for a casual lunch without getting a second mortgage...I said for years that was the niche that was wide open on 30A....for years Smiling Fish Cafe had that entire market to themselves it seemed like...which was fine cause our family loves the place but it is nice to have other options now

 

[shellak]

i agree with the comment about more reasonable restaurants popping up. if you live here year 'round, you can't afford to spend $75 - $100 every night!! we like mctiques & ballyhoo's. still need to try more of the new places. i see "pickles" has opened up in grayton but i think it's just pizza. as i've mentioned previously, all of the area restaurants need to maintain consistent hours. i don't want to drive somewhere, then find out a place closed early for the evening because business was slow!!!

 

[scooterbug44]

I have found that a phone call or reservation easily solves that problem.

I certainly don't expect them to stay open and staffed when there are no customers.

 

[Green Knight]

I have found that a phone call or reservation easily solves that problem.

I certainly don't expect them to stay open and staffed when there are no customers.

As a former restaurant owner I totally disagree with this comment....you can't just close at 8 on a Tuesday cause you are slow...that's a quick way to go out of business when word starts circulating that you do that...I don't have a problem with starting to shut down at 10.30 if your hours say you stay open to 11 and no one is there...but if someone shows up at 10.50 you grin and bear it and serve the folks who came and thank them...just my two cents on it