A time to remember

Patrone's

When my daughter was toddler, she thought the Patron's pig was the most wonderful thing at the beach...we spent many afternoons eating snowcones while she visited with the pig

And now a short trip down memory lane... ;-)


View attachment 11894

Hi -- when was this? Thanks!

And now a short trip down memory lane... ;-)


View attachment 11894

the photo ... thanks for sharing and thanks for the journey down memory lane

And now a short trip down memory lane... ;-)


View attachment 11894

Is this the Red Bar building?

Red Bar

I believe so...an earlier incarnation

Added to SoWal.com home page.

So many great places! Good thread, SWGB!

DKA mentioned the late, great Jim Cooper earlier on and I, for one, miss the original FrostBites...

I know, I know... the whole airstream thing is trendy, but I loved, loved, loved heading over to FrostBites in the building next to the beach walkover, by Spiazzia. Case (Jim's brother, if I remember correctly) was terrific to all of us Seaside students, who would spend hours commandeering his stereo and spinning around on his Coca-Cola bar stools.

Of course, with all the dollar bills that we defaced and stuck up on his walls, he was very well compensated! I must've posted at least $50 bucks up there, all on my own, covered in doodles and BFFs!

And now a short trip down memory lane... ;-)


View attachment 11894

Great shot! We used to buy gas for our jeep there. It was one of three places to get gas...Grayton Store, JD Miller's Texaco on 98 between 83 and 393, and Shallowsnole's dad's place, South Walton Superette, better known as Dickie's!

Oh, if you look closely at the Grayton shot, you will see that they were a Union 76 station.

How far back did I just date myself?

Great shot! We used to buy gas for our jeep there. It was one of three places to get gas...Grayton Store, JD Miller's Texaco on 98 between 83 and 393, and Shallowsnole's dad's place, South Walton Superette, better known as Dickie's!

Oh, if you look closely at the Grayton shot, you will see that they were a Union 76 station.

How far back did I just date myself?

Don't worry - I'm right there with you!

Growing up, I worked (obviously) at the Superette. Then the Butler Store n/k/a Red Bar (whoever said those walls could talk don't know the half of it! My name was painted on a couple of tables). Then I worked for Junie McGee at the Village Market. I wasn't even looking for a job, went in there for something, and Todd yelled "MOM! HERE'S A CANDIDATE!" We used to laugh at the funny-looking people that started Seaside - normal men didn't wear long shorts! Little did we know...

After that, it was off to Tallahassee. Those were the days - your job was your social life...;-)

I also remember Emory Elkins at the Wheelhouse. The original Bay Grove Cafe. Clayton's in Santa Rosa Beach.

And Beachview - that was absolutely awesome, at the time. I miss those days, but I miss my youth worse. Can't get either one back, so no use to cry over it!

And now a short trip down memory lane... ;-)


View attachment 11894

Grayt pic. Who the heck is Ricky?
Mr. DD wants to know when it was taken?

Great shot! We used to buy gas for our jeep there. It was one of three places to get gas...Grayton Store, JD Miller's Texaco on 98 between 83 and 393, and Shallowsnole's dad's place, South Walton Superette, better known as Dickie's!

Oh, if you look closely at the Grayton shot, you will see that they were a Union 76 station.

How far back did I just date myself?

The photo of The Old Butler Store is from the early seventies when it was called Grayton Place. It was just a hang-out for teeny-boppers...pinball, ping-pong table...loitering in the parking lot was how we got through the evenings...all the walls inside were filled with people writing or carving their names into the table tops and booths...

the old Grayton Corner Cafe- Before Opal- with Randall cleaning fish on the bar

Cafe Tango of course , 30-A's 1st real fine dining

and Cattle Company! A good Steak for Cheep! In a previous life there was a Bar in the NW corner of the building where all us volunteer idiots would hang. One night there was wreck on 98 and everybody in the place was either a fireman or responder except for one snowbird couple, All our Radios went off at once and the entire joint emptied in less than a minute as everybody ran to the old fire station on S 393. When I went back to pay my tab the next day the bartender said the older couple left inside 'bout went bezerk with our mass exodus and screaming radios !



deadfish

the old Grayton Corner Cafe- Before Opal- with Randall cleaning fish on the bar




deadfish

Or Nicky Frye (R.I.P.) wearing a dress to work!

What was the Cattle Company before it was the Cattle Company?

wow, don't know whether to laugh or cry reading this thread. So many memories. OMG the Indigo Bar. If those walls could talk!! Jim Cooper....MISS MISS HIM....danced barefoot at Shades at Seaside Many Many thursday nights to Jim's tunes...."brown eyed girl"....... Kid's loved it when AJ's was in Grayton.... Patrones.....what was the little taco place???? LOVED it! When the HOA was on DeFuniak in Grayton EVERYONE always wanted to know what happened to Patrones........Then the Only place to get a burger was a place called Shore Thing in Seagrove 40.00 for three burgers and fries....Anyone remember the woman behind the Magnolia House that sold Mexican Food? You'd bring your own pans and stand in line with everyone else and she'd dish up whatever mexican food she'd cooked that week. It didn't matter to us, we were from Texas and MISSED it so bad. MISS the Grayton Corner Cafe.....What about Jezzabelle's?(sp?) Didn't Teresa have that for a short while? LOVED the decor....and I know it's not in SoWal....but miss June's Dunes in Destin....great breakfasts.

Geeze....I can't believe I've been living here this long.

Kevin!!!! Good to see you posting here!!!

...and I know it's not in SoWal....but miss June's Dunes in Destin....great breakfasts.

I miss June's as well. Great breakfast & a beautiful view!

Back to the Red Bar / Grayton Place / Old Butler Store...teenage hangout for at least three full generations, possibly four. Ever since there was a bridge across the bay, young people have flocked to Grayton Beach.

Yesterday, my brother told me a tale I'd never heard. My dad was a Walton County Constable in the early 1960's. He also owned some sort of a sawed-off WWII carbine - I always heard it referred to as the Gatlin Gun. (I hate guns, sorry. So what do I do? Marry a cop! :roll I have also heard from more than one source that my dad had a reputation for shooting first and asking questions later.

Anyway...there were boys from Fort Walton, boys from DeFuniak, and boys from Freeport - all at the Grayton Store one particular Saturday night (said brother might have been one of them). Of course, a riot broke out and the law was called. I am told that Daddy walked in, yelled stop, but nobody did. So, he walked back to his car, got the Gatlin, and emptied about 30 rounds into the upper walls of the building. After the first twenty, the place was as quiet as a library.

So, if Oli has ever found bulletholes in the walls and wondered where they came from...

Cerulean's

Has anyone mentioned Ceruleans's at Watercolor? Hate that it closed so early in it's magical life here in SoWal.

Lake Place was right up there with Criolla's quality wise.

Jolly Roger for some shots of tequila and a great fish sandwich.

The Terrace, as always. This is a venerable SoWal institution that I feel does not get anywhere near enough credit. Simple surroundings, laid back atmosphere, fabulous food by a family that really cares.

Has anyone been to Boar's Head in the last 10 years?

Great thread ... loving all these stories.

I am so glad I am not the only one who gets sad every time I drive by the old Luna del Mar! It was the first restaurant we went to in SoWal and I miss it terribly ... Kitty and DD go see if you can set something up for us and get them to come back.

Great thread ... loving all these stories.

I am so glad I am not the only one who gets sad every time I drive by the old Luna del Mar! It was the first restaurant we went to in SoWal and I miss it terribly ... Kitty and DD go see if you can set something up for us and get them to come back.

When Kitty gets back in town, we'll do it!

The Terrace

Lake Place was right up there with Criolla's quality wise.

Jolly Roger for some shots of tequila and a great fish sandwich.

The Terrace, as always. This is a venerable SoWal institution that I feel does not get anywhere near enough credit. Simple surroundings, laid back atmosphere, fabulous food by a family that really cares.

Has anyone been to Boar's Head in the last 10 years?

I agree with you about The Terrace! Sort of funky, in a nice way, and always solid in the kitchen. I think Chef Tom does most of the cooking himself. That location has also housed Lous' Restaurant and The Blue Heron. Boars Head is same as it ever was- adequate.

Wow! I forgot about the Blue Heron! They use to have this Filet Diane that was incredible!

Lake Place was right up there with Criolla's quality wise.

Jolly Roger for some shots of tequila and a great fish sandwich.

The Terrace, as always. This is a venerable SoWal institution that I feel does not get anywhere near enough credit. Simple surroundings, laid back atmosphere, fabulous food by a family that really cares.

Has anyone been to Boar's Head in the last 10 years?

Boar's Head is still wonderful and the Wine selection stays consistently wonderful and cheap (it's kind of local secret).

I miss Coco's and Nicks. I think about them both often like long lost loves.

....Anyone remember the woman behind the Magnolia House that sold Mexican Food? You'd bring your own pans and stand in line with everyone else and she'd dish up whatever mexican food she'd cooked that week. !!!

Lisa - you took the words right out of my mouth! Santos family? the best! I still make their salsa (I watched them make it many a night while waiting for my fried mashed potato taquitos). omc. the absolute best mexican food ever. I miss this food most! and you had to make sure your name stayed on the LIST for them to call you every time they cooked. you never ever wanted to be left out. I picked it up sometimes when we already had dinner plans. but had to get it anyway and save it for later. we used to drown in the salsa.

we need that family to open up our new local mexican restaurant that is so needed!!!


thanks to swgb for bringing back great SoWal memories!