Peg's Cantina

Peg, Tony and Doug opened their first restaurant in 2004. Calling it "A Gulfport Original," Peg's Pizza-Cantina combined Thin Crust Pizza and Fresh Mexican Food. Keeping the menu simple and working diligently to ensure consistently great tasting food, the cozy little corner thrived. Customers from Gulfport, South St. Pete, Roser Park, Jungle Prada and Redington Beach became regulars and were enthusiastic about the "little hole in the wall."

The cantina came to have lines of customers waiting in the parking lot to get a seat. The scene was fun, funky and chaotic. The open kitchen brought customer and cook together in a way that larger places are just not able to. By the time the lease was up for renewal, the crew decided to look for a spot they could own and build a restaurant that met their creative needs.

A bungalow on Beach Blvd. in Gulfport's Waterfront District proved to be perfect. With expert advice and oversight from Dan and Tammy Harte, a new Peg's took shape that maintained the spirit and energy of the old place and created new outdoor space Native landscaping, attention to detail and restoration, adding accoutrements like a cedar pergola, Peg's immediately became part of the downtown vibe.

The business philosophy stayed the same if not becoming more actively implemented. They still recycle old silverware, plates and glassware, creating new combinations of old patterns, many of which their customers claim to remember, "We had this plate when I was in grade school!" The menu stayed simple and integrated and continues to be fresh and cooked to order. Cash is still king, by not taking credit cards Peg and Tony try to get folks to reconsider such heavy reliance upon plastic.

They still sell coffee grown by indigenous people in Mexico, still promote locally owned, independent businesses as well as local artists. The artwork that adorns the walls is for sale and full price goes to the artist as Peg and Tony do not profit off of the work of creative minds and hands. Soft drinks are old style, made by Boylen's, they use real cane sugar and no high fructose corn syrup. The main goal was to create a public space that brought folks together to share food, drink and fun. The experiment is evolving.