Story and photos by Alexa Cutrer
One of my favorite things about watching downtown Gulfport evolve is seeing historic spaces find new life.
The Downtowner is a perfect example, transforming one of the city’s most beloved landmarks into a restaurant that honors Gulfport’s past.
From the historic building to the walls filled with local memories, it’s the kind of place that reminds you why you love this city.
A LOVE LETTER TO GULFPORT
Housed inside the beautifully restored former Triplett- Day Drug Store, The Downtowner is a celebration of Gulfport.
From the moment you enter, you’re surrounded by history. The walls are lined with photographs and memorabilia donated by local families, telling the story of Gulfport from the early 1900s through the decades. Vintage trophies, old photographs and local keepsakes make it feel less like a restaurant and more like you’re stepping into your grandparents’ scrapbook. It’s nostalgic without feeling outdated, thanks to modern touches like specialty lattes, acai bowls and a vibrant Gulfport mural that reminds you this city is still writing its story.
Building owner Ryan Goldin deserves credit for preserving one of downtown’s most recognizable buildings and finding the right partners to breathe new life into it.
SOUTHERN COMFORT DONE RIGHT
Of course, the food must live up to the atmosphere, and it absolutely does.
We visited on Father’s Day, which the staff told us was their busiest day since opening. Even with a packed dining room, our food arrived fast, fresh and piping hot.
The bananas foster French toast completely stole the show. Layered thick with a rich brown sugar sauce and toasted pecans, every bite somehow finished with a subtle orange essence that lingered long after the last bite. I intentionally saved it for last because I wanted that flavor to be my final memory of the meal.
We also ordered the catfish and grits, a Southern favorite topped with sautéed peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and a creamy andouille sauce over cheese grits. It’s comforting without feeling heavy and exactly the kind of dish that reminds you why Southern cooking has endured for generations.
Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best, and “The Number One” breakfast proves it. Two eggs, your choice of breakfast meat, hash browns or stone-ground grits and a fluffy cathead biscuit make for the kind of classic breakfast that never goes out of style.
HOSPITALITY YOU CAN FEEL
One of my favorite moments wasn’t on the menu at all. Owner Robert St. John stopped by our table to chat with guests, something that speaks volumes about the kind of hospitality he’s built his career around. As one of Mississippi’s most respected restaurateurs, St. John has spent nearly four decades creating restaurants that become part of their communities, and The Downtowner already feels like it’s headed in that direction.
At its core, The Downtowner serves familiar Southern comfort food. But what makes it memorable is everything happening around the plate. Families linger over coffee. Friends catch up across the table. Visitors learn a little about Gulfport’s past while planning their next downtown stop. It feels welcoming in the way only truly local places can.
WORTH WAKING UP FOR
I have a feeling this won’t be one of those restaurants you visit just to try once. It’ll be a place you suggest when friends are in town, where you’ll meet someone for coffee, or where you’ll find yourself satisfying a French toast craving on a Saturday morning.
The Downtowner already has earned a spot on my list of go-to breakfast spots, and I have a feeling it will for many other Coast locals, too.
IF YOU GO
The Downtowner
- 2429 14th St., Gulfport,
- Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- serving breakfast and lunch.