Business

Even before the Red Bay Grocery opened just shy of two years ago, it was an unusual operation because area residents were permitted to buy shares in the store.

Principal owner Charles Morgan offered 49 people an opportunity to be shareholders at $1,000 each with the guarantee they could get a full refund after a year.

At the one-year anniversary meeting of shareholders, even though there were no profits to share, only one person decided to pull out of the fledgling operation.

School drop-off and pick-up times are a hectic blur of kids stumbling out of cars in the morning and hours later dashing back in to head home. At South Walton Montessori Academy these are also times to make crucial connections.

On a crisp fall afternoon teachers Catherine Beall, Natalie Jobling and David Hopkins carefully manage the pick-up line. They chat with moms and dads, pet family dogs and share tidbits about the day, just like family members.

 “With a name like Stinky’s…it better be good,” reads the server’s t-shirt. And it is good - oh-my-God, stay-out-of-my-plate, best-fried-shrimp-I’ve-ever-tasted good.

Stinky’s Fish Camp & Wine Bar on Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach is what it is and ain’t what it ain’t.

It is the restaurant of choice for locals and the inside joke of tourists who leave with “Peace. Love. Stinky’s.” t-shirts. It ain’t like anything you’ve ever had before.

Oct. 18, 1994 was the “birth” date of WSBZ, The Seabreeze smooth jazz radio station. Looking forward to a continued bright future, owners Mark and Renee Carter delight in providing music not only to local listeners, but with the help of Internet streaming, to fans of smooth jazz around the world.

But it wasn’t always a breeze; in fact it wasn’t always Seabreeze. The first radio station they owned was WWAV 102. It was 1985 and they played soft vocals with a few jazz songs.

Sundog Books, at the heart of Seaside’s charm, definitely has its own story. Stepping up to the porch, you start to get the feeling this isn’t your average bookstore – and you’re right!

You may be greeted by a local author on the porch, signing her latest dream. As you pass over the threshold onto the worn hardwood floor you'll spot Patty, the owners' 14-year-old dog. She's part of the welcoming committee and an easy reminder to slow it on down. Yes, right away, the experience is a step back in time.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill drove home the point that counties along the Panhandle would need to diversify in order to secure economic development for their residents that were not dependent upon the tourist industry.

Two south Walton businessmen have a hot idea to encourage growth in the renewable energy market,

Drumroll please! This Friday Night, October 8, Central Square Records (located above Sundog Books in the Seaside square) has a reason to celebrate – and YOU are invited!

Come join Jenny and Tom King as they share a very exciting event…new ownership! They have a great line up of things going on from 5:00 – 8:00, that you won’t want to miss!

For those of you who love Central Square Records just the way it is, don’t worry. The new owners are familiar faces and have been a governing force in Central Square Records since it opened originally in 2003.

Inlet Beach Water Systems, Inc. has started a $180,000 dollar project to refurbish and repaint the water tower in Inlet Beach, Florida.

When Jesse Hart relocated Gravel Road to a more visible spot in Seagrove Beach, it was more than just a change of address.

Chef Hart also created what he describes as a practical menu with moderate prices where people could dine more frequently.

While Hart might have lowered prices, he certainly didn’t lower his standards for food quality, service or ambiance.

The new locale also has the feel of fine dining with dark walls, muted lighting and tasteful music, he also retained servers with knowledge and skills that enhance the enjoyment of the meal.

If you're looking for a used bike and you ask a local where to find one, you're likely to be told to go see "the bicycle man". He's sort of a living legend around SoWal.

The dictionary defines  “legend” as a non-historical story, or the story of an admirable person.

The definition applies to the life of 89-year-old Leon Sulfridge, better known as  “Jack, the bicycle man.”