The Downtowner is officially open in Downtown Gulfport

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- There’s a new spot on the Coast serving breakfast, lunch, and a taste of local history.

The wait is finally over. The Downtowner is officially open, serving breakfast and lunch to the community from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday inside the former Triplett-Day pharmacy, a Gulfport landmark that is rich in history. Owner Robert St. John said, “This is a café for the community. Everybody in the community, young, old, black, white, rich, poor, anybody who wants pancakes, breakfast, biscuits, and eggs in the morning, you can eat here. You don’t see a lot of this anymore either. Some people call it soul food, some people call it country cooking, but I call it heritage cuisine.”

And what makes the menu so special is that many recipes come from the owner’s grandmother, bringing a homestyle, generational flavor to every dish. Long Beach resident Rachell Richards said, “My friend and I are both cancer survivors. She had her port out yesterday and I had my 16 year check up and it was a good one, so we’re here to celebrate. The food is delicious and the room looks great. We’ve been enjoying all the pictures, reminiscing about old times. It’s really nice.”

This restaurant offers more than just a meal. It’s designed to reflect the story and soul of Gulfport, while giving guests a place to gather, connect, and relive history.