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Couch caper: Abandoned sofa in Palm Bay becomes viral outdoor living room

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — It was fun while it lasted, but it appears a couch that sat abandoned along a busy road in Brevard County for weeks, attracting a comfortable social media following, has been taken away.

For weeks, the solitary sofa – with no living room to call home – nevertheless found a following, if not a home without walls, windows, rugs or even a roof.

Palm Bay residents say the couch had been sitting empty along on Palm Bay Road. For most, it was a roadside eyesore – until the community decided to showcase it.

Soon there was a table, mini-fridge, artificial plants, more furniture and even a TV.

Not to mention lots of onlookers.

Love seeing the community come together!!!

Posted by Ashlee Lyons Gardner on Monday, July 16, 2018

With the couch’s new-found fellow furniture came real-life visitors, who came to see the spontaneous setup and just had to stop for a picture.

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“I thought it was hilarious,” said Palm Bay visitor Diane Monroe. “I had to come down and see and take pictures so I can go home and show my grandkids.”

Look who came to “the couch”!

Posted by Aline Reves on Sunday, July 15, 2018

Thank you so much to all my fans!! Please bear with me. I'm new to this whole Facebook thing....

Posted by The Palm Bay Couch on Sunday, July 15, 2018

Just wanted to say how great Palm Bay community is this couch has been to fun!

Posted by Jacquelyn Spors on Monday, July 16, 2018

The Palm Bay Couch, as it's now called, even has its own Facebook page with more than 5,000 followers.

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Visitors to the Facebook page commented Monday evening that volunteers had cleaned it up and taken it away. It’s not clear who took it or where exactly it’s going.

I am being adopted soon!!!

Posted by The Palm Bay Couch on Monday, July 16, 2018

So a plan has been put together to have me and my stuff removed by 4pm. This is mainly due to safety reasons. My...

Posted by The Palm Bay Couch on Monday, July 16, 2018

People who have stopped for photos have been sharing their stop at the sidewalk sofa.

Thanks for the memories!😂😂

Posted by Paula Creed-Smith on Monday, July 16, 2018

My girl's and I visited #thecouch this morning. We donated a seat cushion for the wooden chair lol. #welovecouch #suchafunthingforpalmbay

Posted by Mallory Dunleavey on Monday, July 16, 2018

Despite the roadside couch comfort, it also brought controversy. Some nearby business owners said the couch created a traffic nuisance. City leaders in Palm Bay and West Melbourne were also trying to figure out whose city limits control the couch creation.

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The Saint Jones River Water Management District was also notified because of the couch’s proximity to a canal.

Still, an abandoned couch's ability to bring strangers together is an incredible thing.

“It’s so much better following something fun and cute… rather than all the negative,” said couch visitor Charlene Palazzo.

The End :(

Posted by Kelly Kervin on Monday, July 16, 2018
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