You’ve probably seen the signs or smelled the smoked mulch at History Class Brewing Company on Harrison Avenue. If you live around here, the name Allan Branch Panama City is basically shorthand for "that guy who buys old buildings and turns them into cool stuff." But as of 2025, things took a sharp turn from selling beer and software to running the whole show.
Allan Branch is the Mayor of Panama City now. It’s a weird transition, honestly. Usually, politicians are, well, politicians. They speak in bullet points and wear suits that look like they were ironed with a laser. Branch is different. He’s a tech guy who bootstrapped a multi-million dollar software company called LessAccounting with a slogan that literally said, "All small business accounting software sucks, we just suck the least." That kind of bluntness is now sitting in the Mayor’s office.
The Software Guy Taking Over City Hall
Most people know him from the brewery or the taco pub, El Weirdo. But the backstory is more about servers and code. Back in the day, Allan wasn't thinking about zoning laws or sewage runoff. He was building LessAccounting and LessEverything. He sold the accounting platform for a seven-figure sum in 2016, which is basically the "I never have to work a 9-to-5 again" dream.
Instead of moving to a private island, he started buying "blighted" properties in downtown Panama City.
We’re talking about the stuff no one wanted. The Sapp House. The old buildings that looked like they’d fall over if you sneezed too hard. He and his wife, Anna, leaned into the "history" angle—hence the name of the brewery. It wasn't just about selling IPAs; it was about convincing people that downtown Panama City didn't have to be a ghost town after 5:00 PM.
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Why Allan Branch Panama City Matters Right Now
Why does a tech entrepreneur run for Mayor? He says it’s because City Hall felt broken. During his campaign, he was pretty vocal about how hard it was to just... do stuff. He’s gone on record saying that every time he tried to start a business or renovate a building, the city made it feel like they didn't want him there.
That resonates.
If a guy with a multi-million dollar exit finds the city’s permit process "impossible," what does that mean for a regular person trying to open a flower shop?
A Different Kind of Leadership
His approach isn't exactly "government as usual." He talks about citizens as "customers." It sounds a bit corporate, but in a town that has been rebuilding since Hurricane Michael, "customer service" at the water department sounds like a revolution.
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- Third-Generation Local: His family has been here since the 40s (think Jimmy’s Drive-In and Tally Ho).
- Division I Athlete: Played football for UAB. He's got that competitive "grit" thing people always talk about.
- Tech Mentality: He wants to "fix the UX" (User Experience) of the city.
He didn't win by a small margin, either. In April 2025, he pulled about 69% of the vote. People were clearly ready for someone who wasn't a "career politician." They wanted the guy who made the brewery.
The Reality of Post-Hurricane Panama City
Let’s be real: Panama City is still recovering. Hurricane Michael wasn't just a storm; it was a total reset button. While the "beach" (PCB) has the tourists and the high-rises, the "city" side—where Allan is Mayor—has the history and the scars.
Branch has focused heavily on Millville and Glenwood, areas that often get overlooked when the shiny new stuff goes up. The goal is "revitalization without displacement," which is a fancy way of saying he wants to fix the neighborhood without pricing out the people who lived there through the storm.
He’s working on things like the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) workshops. These aren't just boring meetings; they’re the actual mechanism for getting money into local businesses. He’s pushing for more transparent communication. Honestly, just getting a straight answer from City Hall is half the battle for most residents.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People think he's just a "rich developer" trying to make more money. If you look at his history, though, he’s been remarkably open about his failures. He’s talked about "deadpooled" companies like LessChurn. He’s admitted to working 70-hour weeks in his 20s and realizing it was a mistake because his health and relationships suffered.
He’s not a polished robot. He’s a guy who asks "dumb questions to smart people" (his words).
Actionable Insights for Panama City Residents
If you're living in Panama City or thinking about starting a business here under the Branch administration, here is what you actually need to know:
- Engage with the "Customer" Mindset: The city is moving toward a more tech-forward, responsive model. Use the digital tools they are rolling out. If a process is confusing, report it. The current administration actually wants to hear where the "friction" is.
- Look Toward Downtown: The momentum is still in the historic districts. Property values there are shifting, but the focus is on "walkable" and "vibrant."
- Watch the CRA Meetings: This is where the actual funding happens. If you own a business in an area like Millville, there are grants and incentives designed to help you fix up your storefront.
- Expect Bluntness: Don't expect "politician-speak" if you run into the Mayor at History Class or El Weirdo. He tends to say what he thinks, which is refreshing but can be jarring if you're used to the old way of doing things.
The "Allan Branch Panama City" era is basically an experiment: Can a tech founder apply "lean startup" principles to a government that’s been doing things the same way for decades? We’re currently in the middle of finding out.
To stay updated on local ordinances or to see how the new administration is handling the city budget, you should regularly check the official City of Panama City portal or attend the bi-monthly City Commission meetings held at City Hall on Harrison Avenue. This is the most direct way to see if the "software" approach is actually fixing the "hardware" of the city.