Finest Fresh Seafood & Much More at Destin Ice Market 30A

Did you hear that? South Walton has sounded a siren call for seafood lovers.

Thanks to local entrepreneurs Pamela and Tim Wellborn you can now find the bounty of the “world’s luckiest fishing village” just inside the welcoming doors of Destin Ice Market 30A in Inlet Beach.

The SoWal location of Destin’s famed seafood shop offers the same quality fresh Gulf seafood as the original, but is much larger with more room for amazing edibles, gourmet gifts and culinary delights.

And if the fresh seafood and certified Angus beef, extensive wine and craft beer selection, grab-and-go options, homemade dips and hand-crafted cheeses aren’t enough to lure you in … there’s more. Weekly wine Friday evening wine tastings from 4 to 6 p.m. and monthly “celebrity” chef cooking demonstrations as well as free recipes for the taking give locals and visitors even more reasons to visit … where else can you shop, sip and cook — all in one perky place?  

They say necessity is the mother of invention and when Pamela could not find a convenient place to pick up gourmet groceries in time to enjoy the sunset, she realized South Walton was missing something: a corner grocery store. She partnered with the owners of Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli in Destin to replicate their winning concept and the 30A location opened over Memorial Day weekend in 2016.

Gathering around the dinner table is a longtime American tradition. And Pamela is hoping to make shopping fun for foodies who love to dine in at home or vacation home, as the case may be. Loyal locals already shop the aisles for their weekly smoked tuna dip fix and cache of crab claws, and vacationing families are frequent customers too.

“It’s not always convenient to pile in the car or several cars to go out to a restaurant,” Pamela says. “So, having everything you need to put breakfast, lunch or dinner on the table so you can relax and enjoy the Gulf view at home … now that’s best table in the house!”

Locals know when pompano and cobia are running and they come to Pamela’s seafood display cases looking for it. And though red snapper and sushi grade tuna are high in demand, she says one fish lures in locals and visitors alike like none other: grouper.

Beyond the fresh food … you can find healthy portions of personalized service here, too. “We are constantly striving for convenience,” Pamela says. “If there is an item we don’t have, give us some notice and we’ll do all we can to get it for you. Perhaps it's a favorite wine or cheese or cut of beef or cut of game, I can get it all.”

A certified sommelier, Pamela’s passion for wine is evident from the well-stocked shelves filled with both well-known producers and hard to find and high-rated wines.

“We bring the best here. A visit here is like going on “a trip around the world,” she jokes.

Pamela’s personal touches also are found in the fresh ingredients, locally-sourced baked goods and even bottled in small jars.

“I love to shop farmer’s markets and I am always looking for things to add to the store. Recently I discovered a lovely Tupelo honey and so I added that to our shelves,” she says.

Scenic Highway 30A is often called the gem in the crown of the Gulf Coast. With this charming shop stocked full of goodness, this gracious gastronome surely has answered the call and then some for that much needed “little grocery store” in SoWal.