Events & Press

    The Market Shops Seventh Annual Bloody Mary Festival Raises Record-Breaking $50,000 for Habitat for Humanity - Walton County

    The Market Shops hosted its Seventh Annual Bloody Mary Festival on Saturday, October 22. The signature event, powered by Step One Automotive Group, raised a record-breaking $50,000 for Habitat for Humanity – Walton County.

    The sold-out event showcased 15 of the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast, each serving unlimited tastes of their most creative and innovative bloody marys, made with Distillery 98’s local Dune Laker Vodka. Participating restaurants included Auston’s on 98, Camille’s at Crystal Beach, Chanticleer Eatery, Chiringo, Emeril’s Coastal, Ovide, Party Fowl, Signature Catering of 30A, SunQuest Cruises, Sunset Bay Cafe, The Beach House, The Henderson, The Ruby Slipper Café, The Red Bar and Louis Louis.

    The shopping center was transformed into a bustling festival ground to host and welcome over 1,000 attendees. Festive tomato-themed balloon décor, courtesy of Mingle, Community Bank, and the Good Grit Agency, greeted guests before they entered the lively courtyard and grand lawn, each full of restaurants, vendors, and merchants from The Market Shops. Event goers made their way around the tents sampling each Bloody Mary, complete with over-the-top accoutrements, and served in specialty cups sponsored by Compass Builders of Florida.

    Upon check-in, guests received a token to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Awards for the “Best Bloody Mary in South Walton.” At the end of the event, votes were counted by Hill Coleman, CPA and the following local restaurants were chosen as the winners:

    1st Place People’s Choice Award – The Beach House
    House made mix, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, fresh lemon and lime juice, olive juice, hot sauce, and a spiced rim. Garnished with a jalapeño, cream cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped shrimp.

    2nd Place People’s Choice Award – Camille’s at Crystal Beach
    Spicy house mix, smoked jalapeño, pickled Gulf shrimp, pickled green tomato, and a peppadew pepper stuffed with espresso bacon jam and feta cheese.

    3rd Place People’s Choice Award – Chiringo
    Sully’s Kimchi Mary Mix topped with baby corn, watermelon radish, spicy green beans, and scallions, finished with a salt or Tahin rim.

    A panel of select food critics and regional media also judged each Bloody Mary and selected the following winner as the most delicious and most creative. New this year, they also picked the winner of the “Best Accoutrement”:

    Judge’s Choice Award – Chiringo
    Best Accoutrement – Camille’s at Crystal Beach

    All awards were custom made by local artist, Maxine Orange.

    Guests also had the opportunity to enjoy numerous food options throughout the festival from the various restaurants located directly within The Market Shops, including Ben & Jerrys, Chicago Hot Dogs & More, Clean Juice, Hunter’s Chicken and Burgers, Jon Smith Subs, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Parlor Doughnuts, Pizza by the Sea, and Tuscany Italian Bistro. There were also shopping opportunities on the lawn, courtesy of Mountain High Outfitters. Apart from the Bloody Marys, guests sipped on local craft brews served by Idyll Hounds Brewing Company and champagne from Hey Mama Wines at the Bubbly Bar, courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. There was also a Hydration Station serving cold water courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty.

    Vacayzen and Shofar Productions transformed the Grand Lawn and Bijoux patio into the ultimate tailgating experience with lounge seating and a jumbo screen that live-streamed college football throughout the event, sponsored by Insurance Zone. Guests also sampled cigars from Shore Thing Cigars, took photos in the interactive photobooth sponsored by Legendary Marine, and danced to the Luke Langford Band on the main stage, sponsored by Carter and Company, CPA along with DJ Dad courtesy of Hunter’s Chicken and Burgers.

    Since its inception, The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival has raised over $130,000 for various local charities. For the past five years, Habitat for Humanity - Walton County has been the beneficiary of the annual event. The money raised through ticket sales, donations, and sponsorship from this year’s festival will go directly toward Habitat for Humanity – Walton County’s efforts to build and provide homes for working families in the area. They already plan to build four homes in 2023.

    The Market Shops would like to thank all of the volunteers from Habitat for Humanity as well as the additional sponsors who helped make this event possible, including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Television, 850 Business Magazine, Bay Life, Beachworx, Brenna Kneiss, Chi Mar Construction, Cumulus Broadcasting, Destin Life, Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation, Emerald Coast Magazine, Frill Seekers Gifts, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, Proffitt PR, Resort Resale, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Scarlett Magazine, South Walton Life, SoWal.com, Tallahassee Magazine, UPS Santa Rosa Beach and Grand Boulevard, VIP 30A Magazine, VIP Destin Magazine, Vacasa, Visit South Walton, Walmart Santa Rosa Beach, and Waste Management.

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    The Market Shops Seventh Annual Bloody Mary Festival Set for October 22, 2022

    On Saturday, October 22, The Market Shops will host its Seventh Annual Bloody Mary Festival benefiting Habitat for Humanity - Walton County. The annual event, powered by Step One Automotive Group, will feature unlimited tastes of South Walton’s most creative and innovative bloody marys made with Distillery 98’s Dune Laker Vodka and served by the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast.

    For a $60 donation to attend, guests are invited from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enjoy up to 20 of South Walton’s most coveted bloody marys served in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders of Florida. Restaurants confirmed to compete for the 2022 title of “Best Bloody Mary in South Walton” include Auston’s on 98, The Beach House, Camille’s at Crystal Beach, Cannery Lane Cantina, Chanticleer Eatery, Chiringo, Harry T’s, The Henderson, Louis Louis, Ovide, Red Bar, The Ruby Slipper Café, Signature Catering of 30A, Sunset Bay Café, SunQuest Cruises, and more. A panel of select food critics and local celebrities will judge each bloody mary to select the winners for the most delicious and most creative. New this year, each bloody mary will be scored on their creative toppings for the “Best Bloody Accoutrement” award. There will also be a highly coveted first-, second-, and third-place People’s Choice Award that is selected by each guest in attendance with votes tallied by Hill Coleman, CPA.

    Apart from the bloody marys, there will also be plenty of food from the various restaurants located directly in The Market Shops, including Ben & Jerrys, Chicago Hot Dogs, Clean Juice, Hunter’s Chicken and Burgers, Parlor Doughnuts, Pizza by the Sea, and Tuscany Italian Bistro along with shopping opportunities from merchants, including Mountain High Outfitters.

    For the non-bloody mary aficionado, there will be local craft brews served by Idyll Hounds Brewing Company along with champagne, provided by Hey Mama Wines, from the Bubbly Bar sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and the Hyatt Place by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Guests will be able to cool off at the hydration station sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. A lounge area with additional seating and cornhole games provided by Vacayzen will be set up on the main lawn, along with SEC football streaming on the big screen courtesy of Insurance Zone.

    While sipping bloody marys, guests can enjoy an interactive Epic Photo Co. photo booth courtesy of Legendary Marine, music by DJ Dad, a cigar bar by Shore Thing Cigars, and exclusive shopping opportunities from The Market Shops merchants. Headlining the event will be a live performance from the Luke Langford Band on the main stage brought to you by Carter & Company CPA, LLC.

    Parking will be available at The Market Shops on the day of the festival but is expected to fill up fast. There will be additional parking available at The Beach House located in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and a complimentary shuttle, provided by Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation courtesy of Beachworx, will travel to and from the festival from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

    For guests traveling from out of town, there will be special room rates available through the festival’s official lodging sponsors including the Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, The Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and The Hyatt Place Sandestin. Visit www.themarketshops.com for more details.

    Tickets are currently on sale through 850Tix for the pre-sale price of $60 or can be purchased the day of the event at the door for $75. To learn more about The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival and to buy tickets, visit themarketshops.com/bloody-mary-festival/. If you would like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity on the day of the event, please email volunteer@waltoncountyhabitat.org.

    Over the past six years, the annual event has raised over $80,000 for local charities. Money raised during the seventh annual event will benefit Habitat for Humanity – Walton County, a local nonprofit housing organization that works toward building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live.

    “We are so appreciative of The Market Shops for naming us the benefactor of the Seventh Annual Bloody Mary Festival,” said Teresa Jones, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. “The funds they raise are crucial for us to continue building homes, community, and hope in Walton County. Like many nonprofits, COVID-19 hit us hard and slowed our building capacity when it was needed the most. The success of this event directly supports our efforts to increase the number of homes we are able to build in a year."

    Special thanks to additional sponsors including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Television, 850 Magazine, Brenna Kneiss Photography, Chi Mar Construction, Coast 93.3, Community Bank, Destin Life, Emerald Coast Magazine, Good Grit Agency, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, Maxine Orange, Mingle, Proffitt PR, Resort Resale, Scarlett Magazine, SoWal Life, SoWal.com, Tallahassee Magazine, Vacasa, VIP 30A Magazine, VIP Destin Magazine, Visit South Walton, Waste Management, Walmart Santa Rosa Beach, and Z96.

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    The Market Shops Celebrates its Revitalization with Walton Area Chamber of Commerce and Young Professionals of Walton County Business After Hours

    The Market Shops, located at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, will host the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce and Young Professionals of Walton County (YPWC) for a combined Business After Hours event on Thursday, September 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will also celebrate the center’s revitalization and its many new restaurants and retailers.

    Members and non-members from both groups along with community members are invited to explore The Market Shops outdoor shopping center while enjoying live music as well as light bites and complimentary refreshments from The Market Shops participating merchants. Those attending will receive a punch card with a map of the lifestyle center outlining specific merchants to visit throughout the night. Guests will receive a stamp from each shop they visit on their punch card. Once the fully stamped card is returned to the check-in table, it will be entered into the drawing for various gift cards, baskets, special merchant products, and more provided by the merchants and participating Chamber members.

    In conjunction with the Business After Hours event, guests are also invited to celebrate the revitalization of The Market Shops. The property has recently completed a re-tenanting process to offer a wide range of quality dining, entertainment, and boutique retail offerings to serve the needs of the Emerald Coast customer. Each space at the center is now filled and fully leased. Today, The Market Shops has reestablished itself as a community destination, where locals and visitors alike come to shop, dine, and spend time together in its courtyards and grand lawn, including signature events such as the Annual Bloody Mary Festival.

    The Business After Hours event is free for Chamber and YPWC members and is $10 for non-members. For more information and to register for the event online, please visit http://www.waltonareachamber.com.

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    The Market Shops Sixth Annual Bloody Mary Festival Set for October 23, 2021

    On Saturday, October 23, The Market Shops will host its Sixth Annual Bloody Mary Festival benefiting Habitat for Humanity - Walton County. The annual event, powered by Step One Automotive Group, will feature unlimited tastes of South Walton’s most creative and innovative bloody marys made with Distillery 98’s Dune Laker Vodka and served by the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast.

    For a $40 donation to attend, guests are invited from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enjoy up to 25 of South Walton’s most coveted bloody marys served in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders of Florida and Frillseekers Gifts. Restaurants confirmed to compete for the 2021 Best Bloody Mary in South Walton include Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, The Henderson, Jackacudas, Signature Catering of 30A, Stinky’s Fish Camp and many more. A panel of select food critics and local celebrities will judge each bloody mary to select the winners for the most delicious and most creative. There will also be a highly coveted first-, second-, and third-place People’s Choice Award that is selected by each guest in attendance whose votes will be tallied by Hill Coleman, CPA.

    “We are eager to welcome everyone back to the shopping center as we host the Annual Bloody Mary Festival this October,” said Rob Duncan with The Market Shops. “After postponing last year’s festival due to COVID, I know this year’s event will be better and bigger than ever.”

    Apart from the bloody marys, there will also be plenty of food from the various restaurants located directly in The Market Shops, including Ben & Jerrys, Bijoux Restaurants + Spirits, and Jon Smith Subs. For the non-bloody mary aficionado, there will be local craft brews served by Idyll Hounds Brewing Company along with champagne, provided by Hey Mama Wines, from the Bubbly Bar sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and the Hyatt Place by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Guests will be able to cool off with alcohol-infused popsicles provided by Swell Pops and a hydration station by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. A lounge area with additional seating and cornhole games provided by Vacayzen will be set up on the main lawn, along with SEC football streaming on the big screen courtesy of Insurance Zone.

    While sipping bloody marys, guests can enjoy a commemorative photo booth courtesy of Legendary Marine, music by DJ Dad, a cigar bar by Shore Thing Cigars, and exclusive shopping opportunities from The Market Shops merchants. Headlining the event will be a live performance from Dread Clampitt on the main stage brought to you by Carter & Company CPA, LLC.

    Parking will be available at The Market Shops on the day of the festival but is expected to fill up fast. There will be additional parking available at The Beach House located in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and a complimentary shuttle, provided by Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation courtesy of Beachworx, will travel to and from the festival from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

    For guests traveling from out of town, there will be special room rates available through the festival’s official lodging sponsors including the Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, The Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and The Hyatt Place Sandestin. Visit www.themarketshops.com for more details coming soon.

    Tickets are currently on sale through 850Tix for the pre-sale price of $40 or can be purchased the day of the event at the door for $60. To learn more about The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival and to buy tickets, visit www.themarketshops.com. If you would like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity on the day of the event, please email volunteer@waltoncountyhabitat.org.

    Over the past five years, the annual event has raised over $50,000 for local charities. Money raised during the sixth annual event will benefit Habitat for Humanity – Walton County, a local nonprofit housing organization that works toward building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live.

    “We are so grateful to be named as the beneficiary for The Market Shops Annual Bloody Mary Festival once again” said Teresa Imdieke, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. “The proceeds raised from the festival each year help us operate on a day-to-day basis and build homes for those who need it most in our community. We are dedicated to achieving our mission to provide everyone in Walton County with a safe and stable place to live.”

    Special thanks to additional sponsors including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Television, 850 Magazine, Amber Yonker Photography, Coast 93.3, Destin Life, Destin Log, Dog Harmony Life, Emerald Coast Magazine, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Hesh Studios, The Local, Maxine Orange, Mingle, Mountain High Outfitters, Northwest Florida Daily News, Proffitt PR, Scarlett Magazine, SoWal Life, SoWal.com, Tallahassee Magazine, VIP 30A Magazine, VIP Destin Magazine, VIP Pensacola Magazine, Visit South Walton, The Walton Sun, and Z96.

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    The Market Shops Welcomes Mountain High Outfitters and Parlor Doughnuts to Tenant Mix

    The Market Shops, located at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, welcomes two new merchants, Mountain High Outfitters and Parlor Doughnuts, to the shopping center.

    Mountain High Outfitters is a premier outdoor retailer that features popular brands like Brumate, Chaco, Free Fly Apparel, Hoka, Teva, On Shoes, Patagonia, Vuori, and Yeti. In addition to apparel, footwear, and accessories for the entire family, Mountain High also offers gear for various outdoor activities including backpacking, bouldering, camping, caving, climbing, hiking, biking, yoga, skiing, trail running, slacklining, paddle boarding, and fly fishing.

    Parlor Doughnuts is a locally owned and operated franchised bakery originally founded in 2018. Their newest location at The Market Shops will offer plenty of grab and go options including doughnuts, organic cookies, fresh brewed coffee, breakfast sandwiches and acai bowls for customers to enjoy on the run or outside within the shopping center courtyard.

    “We are happy to welcome two new thriving businesses to the tenant mix here at The Market Shops,” said Rob Duncan, Vice President of CenterCore Properties. “We take pride in offering an eclectic mix of retail stores, dining options, entertainment, professional offices, and health facilities to our locals and visitors alike creating a well-balanced lifestyle center. Mountain High Outfitters and Parlor Doughnuts are the first of many new retailers and businesses coming to The Market Shops in 2021.”

    The 4,800 square foot space will be the fifteenth location in the Southeast for Mountain High Outfitters and will create 15-20 new jobs in the local market. Other locations can be found in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The company prides itself on having the knowledge to help their clientele in whatever activity they are shopping for, making it the ideal place to prepare for your first adventure, expedition or lifestyle experience. They also focus on community involvement surrounding each of their locations with the motto, “Get out, get active, be inspired and live your passion.”

    “We are excited to be a part of the Destin community and hope a few of our current guests from our other locations in the Southeast will be familiar with our brand and visit us while enjoying this amazing part of Florida,” said Chistopher Groom, founder and CEO of Mountain High Outfitters. “After searching the area for a year and half, we chose The Market Shops because of its premier visibility, density of traffic, outstanding clientele, and sheer ability to have adequate parking and curb side pick-up opportunities.”

    Parlor Doughnuts was originally founded in 2018 in Evansville, Ind. by Darrick Hayden. Hayden’s close friend, Ryan Ford, joined him in business after offering help during a busy morning rush at the Evansville location. The following year, Ford and his wife moved to Florida in the hopes of opening another location along the Emerald Coast. Unfortunately, COVID-19 halted their original timeline requiring them to make alternative plans for the new location. Ford opened the Fort Walton Beach, Fla. location in 2020 and knew he wanted to open another location soon after. He began looking throughout Destin and Miramar Beach for the perfect spot and chose The Market Shops for its convenience and accessibility to their customers.

    Parlor Doughnuts sets themselves apart from other doughnut shops with their special dough. While traditional doughnuts are made with either yeast dough or cake, they offer their famous layered doughnuts, made with layers of dough and butter one on top of the other to make a crunchy and flaky exterior with layers of fluffy dough on the inside. They offer 22 flavors of doughnuts along with keto, vegan, and gluten free options as well as dog doughnuts, batch brew coffee, cold brew coffee, iced lattes and a variety of cold drinks.

    “We are excited to be in the heart and center of Miramar Beach,” said Ryan Ford, general manager of Parlor Doughnuts. “The family friendly environment, along with the convenience to our customers helped us choose The Market Shops as our next storefront location along the Emerald Coast. We are all about community and the idea of being able to serve the people in our backyard was a major plus for us.”

    The new Mountain High Outfitters will be located on the far west side of the shopping center and will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 28 at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, Parlor Doughnuts is located in the center of the shopping plaza adjacent to Ben & Jerry's and Pizza by the Sea and is now open. To learn more about The Market Shops and its list of merchants, visit www.themarketshops.com.

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