One More Bites the Dust
Alana Adams

Time is limited if you want to enjoy a good meal and entertainment at The Breakers or Harpoon Harry's off Front Beach Road on Panama City Beach. Come November, the property will make way for one more condo to stand high in its place.

Bishop is the minority partner in the ownership of The Breakers and Harpoon Harry's.

"I've been at The Breakers on the beach since April 14, 1971. That's when we opened the first time. We've seen two hurricanes and a fire. We've rebuilt it four times," he says.

After 30 years of feeding and entertaining on the beach, he says the majority owner made the decision that now was the best time to sell.

"A casual fine dining restaurant overlooking the Gulf really could have a place in the new Panama City Beach, but whether we could survive until it gets there. The next two or three years are going to be a difficult transition for us all."

A transition Jimmy Patronis with Captain Anderson's says will focus on maintaining the customers already coming to the area.

"Getting our customer base that has been so loyal to this market, to get re-acclimated we kind of in a way are saying re-arrange the furniture."

Bishop agrees, saying planning is the key. "We have to go further in the 21st century out here, otherwise the development is going to overrun us all."

Bishop is not getting out of the restaurant business. He says his Captain Jack's family restaurant on Thomas Drive will remain open and they're looking to open another one on the west end of the beach.

I for one will be sorry to see it go... I worked at Breakers / Bishops / Harpoon Harry's every summer throughout high school and have a lot of memories there. Not to mention all the craziness I've seen at Harpoon Harry's during Spring Break. And all the great food and Clutch shows I've enjoyed at Breakers. (Our last 3 company Christmas dinners have been at Breaker's as well).

But like Jack and Jimmy stated in the article... it's all part of progress and necessary for PCB to keep up with other destinations in the 21st Century.

I think I'll have one last drink and meal at Harry's and Breaker's sometime soon! Anyone else?