Historic Florida Restaurant Reopens After Storm
Seahorse, an 88-year-old restaurant in Pass-a-Grille Beach, Florida, has officially reopened its doors. The iconic local eatery had been closed since 2024 to repair significant damage sustained during a storm. Its return is being welcomed by the local community.
- The restaurant was forced to close in late 2024 after sustaining several feet of flood damage from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The damage was extensive, with owner Anayeri Gomez stating the storm "took everything." - Originally opened in 1938, the Seahorse was one of the area's first drive-in restaurants and became a popular spot for locally stationed soldiers during World War II. - In November 2024, St. Pete Beach's Historic Preservation Board granted the restaurant a historic designation. This status will allow the owners to repair the eatery after future storm damage without having to meet current, more stringent flood standards. - The restoration aimed to make the restaurant look exactly as it did before the storms, with the owners using old photographs to accurately recreate the iconic wooden booths and beachy decor. - Owners Anayeri Gomez and Carlos Calvillo used their personal savings to fund the restoration, which involved five to six months of construction and an additional seven to eight months of waiting for permits. - The restaurant is currently in a soft opening phase, operating from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily (except Tuesdays), with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for the future.
