After 16 months of silence, one of Pass-a-Grille’s most beloved landmarks is ready to welcome customers again.
The Seahorse Restaurant – a longtime staple for locals and beach visitors – will have its grand reopening Friday at 11 a.m., attended by the chamber of commerce, marking a milestone for a community still recovering from hurricanes Milton and Helene.
Co-owner Anna Gomez, who runs the restaurant with her husband, Carlos, said the return is about more than reopening a business – it’s proof the neighborhood can endure.
“A lot have commented about bringing it back the way it was, seeing it for what it was,” Gomez said. “It’s something that we accomplished… whatever happened with the hurricane, we got through it. Everything will be fine.”
Seven feet of water – and a condemned building
The Seahorse didn’t close for minor repairs. The storms caused catastrophic damage.
“There was seven feet of water in the dining room,” Gomez said. Nearly all equipment was destroyed in the flooding, and the building was condemned – a designation that complicated every step of the recovery.
With a condemned structure, reopening is far more difficult than drying out and replacing appliances.
“Condemned buildings make it harder to get permits to reopen,” she said.
The long road back
Insurance claims, contractors and costs were all challenges, but Gomez said the biggest hurdles were bureaucratic and structural.
“The biggest obstacles were getting the permits from the city, getting engineers to verify that the structure was safe, and getting the historic designation,” she said.
That designation became a turning point – and ultimately helped save the building. Securing an historic designation also changed what was required under federal rules: FEMA rules don’t apply to a historic building, allowing Gomez to reopen the restaurant instead of demolish it.
Restored, not replaced
The Seahorse isn’t returning as a new concept. The Gomez family made a deliberate choice to preserve what made the restaurant special.
Anna and Carlos Gomez took over operations in 2021 after the Hollenvack family ran it for more than 40 years. The Hollenvacks still own the building, but the Gomez family runs the restaurant – and from the beginning, they kept it true to its roots.
The owners made few changes, including keeping the menu intact. They also salvaged dining room benches and tables, restoring them so the classic look and feel would return.
What customers can expect
When the doors open, longtime customers will recognize the Seahorse immediately – familiar décor, a nostalgic atmosphere and the comfort-food staples that made it a Pass-a-Grille tradition.
Fan favorites returning include:
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Shrimp and grits
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Omelettes, including the “Eighth Avenue Omelette”
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Fish sandwich
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Mimosas and Bloody Marys
More than a reopening
In a beach town where restaurants double as gathering places, the Seahorse reopening carries emotional weight.
Gomez called it “a staple for locals and tourists,” and said many residents have expressed gratitude that it’s returning the way it was.
