Perks Coffee Shop and Cafe
In the heart of Gulfport, Perks Coffee Shop and Cafe is family owned and meets the need of all residents who are seeking a sense of home and authenticity. Open the front doors on 14th Street and get ready for a true, timeless, and delicious experience.
What are some of the “perks” of living near downtown Gulfport? Stop inside this coffee shop and you’ll find out, especially as it rolls out spring coffee drinks with hints of the season.
Co-owned, and family as well, Linda Lyon and Mileah Lyon wanted to bring forth a place that provided a little something extra for this beautiful Gulf Coast town in Mississippi. “We wanted to be the place people wanted to come to, and when they ask about the perks that come with the coast,” which is how the name was decided for Perks Coffee Shop and Cafe, explained Mileah.
And that it is, indeed, a place that is extra fulfilling for what every coffee shop should be. The corner of 14th Street is now a delicious and welcoming experience for locals as well as that new person in town that is trying to find their special place to call home. Their coffee bean selection is brought in by a New Olreans roaster, with organic beans imported from a Fair Trade.
Sammi McGrew, a Perks barista, discovered her true passion here for making an “art” out of creating wonderful coffee drinks and providing excellent customer service. “I love my job and, here, I found a family and a passion,” said Sammi as she poured one of the cafe’s new seasonal iced coffee drinks, known as Strawberry Fields.
Fresh ingredients are also picked for the menu and made fresh every day, providing meals that are homemade and intentional. Linda Lyon said she has always wanted to provide a place that serves both breakfast and lunch. The Perks menu is lined with sandwiches, salads, wraps, and specials that might include a phenomenal chicken and sausage gumbo.
Customers can start their day with a Hearty Breakfast Sandwich, which includes ham, bacon, sausage with American cheese on a croissant and finished with Perks Zesty Sauce. A few other options for the morning are the quick snacks such as muffins, scones, and frittatas made with eggs, peppers, and sausage.
Local town workers are also heading to Perks for a lunch break or hosting a client meeting accompanied with food since there is complimentary access to Wifi inside the cafe for all customers. One popular favorite for lunchtime is the 14th Street, a tasty arrangement of ham, bacon, and tomato with provolone cheese and Creole spread, on a toasted Ciabatta bun. The Cafe’s chicken salad sandwich is another dependable meal for a sweeter and lighter texture, as well as the Caesar salad wrap and potato salad.
The interior elements of the Cafe also reveal a timeless essence of history and sense of belonging. Original photograph pieces are displayed on the walls from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Museum of Historical Photography. One photograph shows a scene from the very same location of what the corner of 14th Street used to be, and suddenly a moment of time travel begins. While sipping on a cup of coffee, imagine a horse and carriage travelling across the store front, and then maybe hearing a sound of a trolley whistling by. The photo gallery displayed in the Cafe gives a nod to local history and appreciation of what Gulfport used to be, and excitement for what is to come.
Strawberry Fields is everything to be imagined in a fruity seasonal coffee drink, which will be available at the Cafe as a hot or cold beverage. This cold brew is bursting with strawberry puree, topped with whip cream and colorful sprinkles to match the Spring. An iced shortcake is just what you need to try if you are a strawberry fanatic.
St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated here with a Mint Crème coffee, hot or iced. The St. Patty’s drink will top off with a shot of frosted mint, French vanilla, and sprinkled with chocolate shavings. Chocolate is always a winner, and so is this specialty coffee drink!
Every week there is a new special at Perks. Breakfast and lunch are served all day. The Cafe is open weekdays 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (until 5 pm after the spring) and on Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Follow Perks on social media and visit the Cafe’s website at https://www.perksdowntown.com.
Nikki is a Multimedia Journalist for Seaside Shoutouts, which covers exciting stories about small business owners on the MS Gulf Coast. When she’s not writing for Seaside Social News she designs websites and also enjoys quality time with her family and friends.
