Ten years ago, George and Ann Hartley, owners of Seagrove Village Market Café, quite unexpectedly moved to Seagrove Beach on the heels of an extremely fast-paced life back in Dallas.
"I owned a retail fashion business and a clothing line that was sold all over the world, while George was a partner in Sonny Bryan's BBQ, a famous spot in Dallas," said Ann. "George also owned a third-generation insurance business that his grandfather had started."
"We were crazy people," said George.
The couple had already bought a lot here in the hope of one day owning a second home. But then, fate stepped in. In 1996, Ann was made "an offer that she couldn't refuse" for her business. Then the couple endured personal tragedies, when George and Ann lost their fathers within just a few months of each other.
"Following those tough months, we decided to rent a house in Grayton Beach for an entire month," said Ann. "While we were here, sitting on the beach, talking and having a few margaritas with my daddy's best friend, he told us that if we had a dream, we needed to live it now—and not to wait!"
So, George and Ann went back to the house they'd rented, called a realtor in Dallas and put their home on the market. Three weeks later, they returned to Dallas to tell their friends that they were moving to the beach.
"I know they thought we were running from the IRS or something," said Ann. "It was just too crazy."
"The minute we got here, we went to the Tom Thumb," recalled George. "At the time, there wasn't even a Publix in Destin. We got a screwtop bottle of wine, sat on the balcony and…"
"I told George we'd just made a huge mistake," laughed Ann. "But, of course, we hadn't."
And now, ten years later, the Hartley's are moving again—to Alys Beach! George and Ann will not only join us as full-time residents, but have opened the Town Center's first new business: a restaurant called "George's at Alys Beach," located directly on Scenic Highway 30A.
"The life of any town is created by those pioneering efforts of strong retail personalities," said Jason Comer, Alys Beach's Town Founder. "We simply couldn’t ask for a more humble, friendly, and talented couple than George and Ann Hartley to help make Alys Beach a place of great warmth and character."
George's menu features grilled and fried seafood po' boys, hamburgers, Philly cheese steak sandwiches—and, of course, the grouper sandwich that the Market Café has become so famous for. Guests can also look forward to enjoying Ann's famous fish tacos with poblano-lime tartar sauce.
"In addition to our tried-and-true local favorites, though, George's menu features healthy, organic, locally grown selections, including some soups that are 'to die for' delicious, and yummy salads with at least ten varieties of veggies," said Ann. And even though George's at Alys Beach is now open, the couple will continue to own and operate Seagrove Village Market Café.
"We are very honored to have the Hartleys join us as our neighbors and as our Town Center's first tenants," said Jason.
Open for Lunch and Dinner
Monday - Saturday
Lunch 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Phone: 850-641-0017
30 Castle Harbour Drive
George's Photo Gallery
George's Web site
George's Menu
Ten years ago, George and Ann Hartley, owners of Seagrove Village Market Café, quite unexpectedly moved to Seagrove Beach on the heels of an extremely fast-paced life back in Dallas.
"I owned a retail fashion business and a clothing line that was sold all over the world, while George was a partner in Sonny Bryan's BBQ, a famous spot in Dallas," said Ann. "George also owned a third-generation insurance business that his grandfather had started."
"We were crazy people," said George.
The couple had already bought a lot here in the hope of one day owning a second home. But then, fate stepped in. In 1996, Ann was made "an offer that she couldn't refuse" for her business. Then the couple endured personal tragedies, when George and Ann lost their fathers within just a few months of each other.
"Following those tough months, we decided to rent a house in Grayton Beach for an entire month," said Ann. "While we were here, sitting on the beach, talking and having a few margaritas with my daddy's best friend, he told us that if we had a dream, we needed to live it now—and not to wait!"
So, George and Ann went back to the house they'd rented, called a realtor in Dallas and put their home on the market. Three weeks later, they returned to Dallas to tell their friends that they were moving to the beach.
"I know they thought we were running from the IRS or something," said Ann. "It was just too crazy."
"The minute we got here, we went to the Tom Thumb," recalled George. "At the time, there wasn't even a Publix in Destin. We got a screwtop bottle of wine, sat on the balcony and…"
"I told George we'd just made a huge mistake," laughed Ann. "But, of course, we hadn't."
And now, ten years later, the Hartley's are moving again—to Alys Beach! George and Ann will not only join us as full-time residents, but have opened the Town Center's first new business: a restaurant called "George's at Alys Beach," located directly on Scenic Highway 30A.
"The life of any town is created by those pioneering efforts of strong retail personalities," said Jason Comer, Alys Beach's Town Founder. "We simply couldn’t ask for a more humble, friendly, and talented couple than George and Ann Hartley to help make Alys Beach a place of great warmth and character."
George's menu features grilled and fried seafood po' boys, hamburgers, Philly cheese steak sandwiches—and, of course, the grouper sandwich that the Market Café has become so famous for. Guests can also look forward to enjoying Ann's famous fish tacos with poblano-lime tartar sauce.
"In addition to our tried-and-true local favorites, though, George's menu features healthy, organic, locally grown selections, including some soups that are 'to die for' delicious, and yummy salads with at least ten varieties of veggies," said Ann. And even though George's at Alys Beach is now open, the couple will continue to own and operate Seagrove Village Market Café.
"We are very honored to have the Hartleys join us as our neighbors and as our Town Center's first tenants," said Jason.
Open for Lunch and Dinner
Monday - Saturday
Lunch 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Phone: 850-641-0017
30 Castle Harbour Drive
George's Photo Gallery
George's Web site
George's Menu