07/08/2026
Hi everyone,
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here. Nearly two years have passed since Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and I know a lot of you have been waiting for an update on GulfPerk.
First, I want to apologize for how quiet I’ve been. The plan was always to reopen GulfPerk. Unfortunately, that just isn’t how things turned out.
I’m sad to say that GulfPerk, officially, will not be reopening.
I know this probably isn’t a surprise after nearly two years, but that doesn’t make it any easier to say. It isn’t the outcome I wanted, and I know it isn’t the one many of you wanted either. But as much as I wish things had turned out differently, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for letting me be a small part of your lives.
I had the privilege of watching life happen from behind the counter. I watched freshmen become graduates, couples become families, and friendships form between people whose paths first crossed at GulfPerk. But I’ll remember the ordinary mornings just as much: the familiar faces, the conversations over coffee, and seeing so many of you make GulfPerk part of your routine. More than anything, I’m grateful to have gotten to know so many of you over the years. Thank you for making GulfPerk what it was.
I also want to thank everyone who reached out over the past couple of years to check in, ask for updates, or simply let me know you were thinking about GulfPerk. Even when I didn’t respond, those messages meant a lot, and I appreciated your patience while I continued hoping for a different outcome.
I wish this had ended differently, but it doesn’t make me any less grateful. Thank you for every visit, every conversation, and for all of the support you’ve shown GulfPerk and me over the years.
-Elliot
