When Jennifer Blackwood was working as a Pharmaceutical Rep in the Panhandle of Florida, she had a favorite old gas station in Seaside, which she frequently visited. “It had a lot of personality, and when I saw Battles Wharf Market, it reminded me of that special place.” And here she is, the new owner of the iconic market on Scenic 98, just north of the Grand Hotel.

Jennifer’s travels through life began in Mobile. Her Grandmother lived on Weeks Bay her whole life, so as a child, she spent summers on the bay enjoying the charm of Fairhope. When in Fairhope, Jennifer never felt safer, and she knew as a child that Fairhope was where she wanted to raise her own family. She attended Theodore High School and the University of Alabama and worked three jobs to pay for college. She credits her single mother for instilling her strong work ethic. While working as a cashier at Winn-Dixie in high school and college, the grocery company gave her a scholarship to pursue her degree in Hospital Administration. 

After graduation, Jennifer moved back to Mobile to see if Hospital Administration was the right job for her. She worked for a company that installed computers in small to medium-sized hospitals throughout the United States. She spent 3 to 6 weeks in each and learned everything about every department in the hospital. Realizing she wanted to be more involved with the clinical environment and preferred working with patients, she rerouted to become a Pharmaceutical Sale Representative. This decision was the highlight of her career path and after 25 years of success and a proven track record with some of the largest companies, Jennifer is still passionate about helping doctors impact and save patient lives. Jennifer has twin girls Grace and Denice, and it is obvious they are the reason she is determined to not only thrive but put her passion to grow Battles Wharf. She, too, is a single mother, and it was important to her to support her family, just as her mother had done for her. 

Her sales territory brought her to Fairhope in the early 2000s. After a lay-off because of Covid, she was working at a local bar/restaurant, when she started to think about buying a restaurant in the area and getting out of the corporate world. As fate would have it, she met her now fiancé, Meyer Robinson. As they grew to know one another, she and Meyer were travelling on a wet road when his truck hydroplaned. Jennifer broke her neck, shoulder, sternum, along with other injuries. “ I'm lucky to be alive”, she said. “This accident made me want to change everything. It was an intervention.” A very happy ending, she and Meyer will marry in September of this year, and he is right by her side. They will no doubt be partners through all walks of life. 

Now on to the business…. Jennifer heard through a friend that Ken Buck was looking to sell Battles Wharf Market. So Jennifer met with Ken, shadowed him daily, learned the ins and outs and became the owner and proprietor on February 1, 2025. “ This just fell in my lap,“ she said. “I love when things work out like this! ” Jennifer doesn't want to fix what isn't broken at the market, but she plans to make some additions and improvements and start catering for her neighbor to the south, Little Point Clear. While we were talking at an outside table at 3 pm on a Thursday, there was a steady stream of customers; little kids on scooters, boaters, hard hat guys and Point Clear ladies. She talks about the learning curve, “As an owner, it is important to me to learn all aspects of the business. I believe that you never ask an employee to do something that you would not do yourself. So I work in the kitchen, the register, I do the ordering, I do it all. 

We are fortunate to have the same cooks and the same recipes that customers love. Our daily specials sell out every day, but our hot dogs and sausage dogs remain the history of the market's success. Jennifer has tweaked a few of the Buck family’s recipes, but her subtle change to the Hot Roast Beef Po boy, has led to it becoming a bestseller. “The other day, we put a Cuban Sandwich on the daily special board, and it sold really well too.” I can attest to how good the food is at the Market, the chicken salad is the best, in my opinion, and I'm going to try the Roast Beef soon. The wine selection is fabulous. I bought a delicious Vinho Verde from Portugal at the conclusion of our visit.  We have the best wine selection on Scenic 98,” she mentions. Jennifer plans to incorporate some other dining options, offering dinners to go and take and bake items, which will be great for the summer families along the bay. 

Drawing from some of the Fairhope establishments, she hopes to carry some Fairhope centric merchandise for vacationers from the Grand Hotel to enjoy. She has put out some new signage, and plans to have a mural painted on the North side of the building that will show the history of Battles Wharf. A new awning will be coming soon, and she intends to do something retro and cool with the antique gas pumps in the front. In the future, Jennifer wants to give back to the community by sponsoring local teams and leagues and supporting charitable causes in the region. “I’m taking everything slowly, and once I get it all done the way I want it, we will have a big grand opening.” We will all watch and wait, while continuing to patronize the coolest convenience store in the Scenic 98 Coastal area. Congratulations and Best of Luck, Jennifer