May/June • 2021 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE A
DO YOU NEED A GOOD DELIVERY
SERVICE?
Evan Merritt has been swamped with work
since June 1, 2019. This local man used
to make water taxi runs to Little Gasparilla
Island, and that’s when the idea for his
business started to come together in his
mind. He primarily runs groceries for people
on the barrier islands by boat and by land,
but he’s been known to go the extra mile for
some of his tried-and-true customers.
“When I was running the water taxi, I
talked to the captain about doing deliveries
for people,” Evan said, “but the captain
didn’t know if I would have time because
we were so busy. But then the big red tide
bloom hit, and our business started slowing
down. I realized it would be a good time
to try out my idea, so I asked the owners
of Eldred’s if I could operate out of their
marina. They said I could. Now I’m doing
this full-time.”
Evan’s business started out just on Little
Gasparilla Island and Palm Island, as those
two locations have no bridges, but he now
delivers to LGI, Boca Grande, Palm Island,
Placida, Cape Haze and Rotonda West.
Getting groceries is particularly diffi cult if
you’re visiting LGI, as you have to carry not
only all of your luggage and necessities to
your vacation spot, you have to lug your
groceries as well. Even full-time residents
have a hard time of it, considering the fact
that transferring your daily parcels and work
paraphernalia back and forth from the boat
dock to the house can get tiresome.
Because he worked with the water
taxi prior to running this business, Evan
was already acquainted with many of his
customers. When he told them about his
new endeavor, many of them jumped at the
chance to make their daily journey easier.
“I ask that people give me as much lead
time as possible with their orders,” he said.
“For people who rent, I ask for three to
fi ve days leeway, but some people book
me months in advance. My regulars who
live full-time on the islands know I will take
care of them as quick as I can, so some of
my days can be pretty long. When it’s high
season it gets a little crazy, but most of
the time I can deliver on even just a day’s
notice.”
He has become a popular fellow around
these parts, and the Cape Haze Publix keeps
his phone number in the offi ce to give to
people who call and inquire about their
delivery service. The Gasparilla Inn & Club
also gives his cards out to people who need
items from off-island, but don’t necessarily
want to go themselves.
“When I fi rst started, I wasn’t sure there
was even a reason to try Boca Grande,”
he said. “I found out that wasn’t the case,
though, and immediately started getting
phone calls. It has been absolutely
incredible. Far exceeding my expectations.”
Evan also offers stocking services if a
family is planning on coming on island and
wants everything to be ready. He works with
several different real estate agents or the
home cleaners to make sure he can get it
and get the job done right.
“People will send me their list and what
day and time they will be there, and I’ll do
the shopping,” he explained. “Some people
who are already situated in the house will
call me to do their curbside pickups and I’ll
go get that, then bring it right to the house.”