Got breakfast? PCB does // PHOTO GALLERY

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach is a bounty for breakfast seekers.

With endless options, including six Waffle House locations, local restaurant owners say it has become more important to distinguish themselves from the many chains that have come in through the years.

After more than 40 years in the breakfast business, Mike Thomas, the owner of Mike’s Diner and Thomas Donuts and Snack Shop, has seen the beach change drastically. 

“In ’71, Funland, which my uncle owned, and the donut shop, we were the only ones open 24 hours a day out here during the summer,” Thomas said. “There’s a lot more competition out here now.”

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He said chain restaurants often have more resources to advertise and draw business during the slow winter season, and while offseason marketing efforts from the Bay County Tourist Development have helped, it’s still difficult to make it with so many businesses vying for customers.

“The number of places to eat has always been high per capita on the beach,” he said. “During the summer it’s fine, but during the winter it’s difficult.”

One of the chains, Waffle House, opened its sixth restaurant on the beach near the Breakfast Point Publix Marketplace, right next door to another breakfast option, Dunkin’ Donuts. While Waffle House corporate officials said the company’s Panama City Beach locations have been successful and had a good response from the community, they would not disclose the recipe for choosing site locations.

While some may find six locations excessive, the beach is no match for Metro Atlanta, which boasts more than 200 locations, the highest concentration of Waffle House stores in the U.S.

Imitated, never duplicated

John Certo, the owner of Andy’s Flour Power Café and Bakery on Thomas Drive, said while the influx of chains has created more competition for customers, Andy’s has maintained a loyal customer base over the years.  

“We’ve seen more competition, but our customers are very true to us because we’ve never substituted our quality,” Certo said. “I think that’s what separates us from franchises.”

Panama City Beach often is touted as a budget destination, one of the reasons Certo believes many breakfast restaurants have flocked to the area.

“The lucky thing about doing breakfast is it costs a lot less to bring a family of four,” he said. “It’s a lot less for people to come out for breakfast than it is to go out for dinner.”

Andy’s has been open since 2004, and Certo said he believed much of the restaurant’s success has come from its originality and focus on quality goods.

“The discouraging thing is, some people will still say I can go down the block and get (this deal) for $2,” Certo said. “A lot of people are willing to compromise quality for price, but as a business owner, I thought we owed it to our loyal customers to give them the quality they’re looking for.”

Successful restaurants, he said, are often imitated but never duplicated.

“Variety is good for the restaurant business,” Certo said. “It’ll keep people in this area; it will keep people in this area looking for something. No one can eat the same thing every day.”