By Peter Roos
Retail businesses, restaurants, salons and boutiques for example, get most of their business from people living or visiting within 10 miles of their location. Many market to a 5-mile radius. Beach businesses are at several disadvantages in this regard. Even in good times, there is only water east and west of the businesses, so they try to market to the north and south, to reach hotel guests and barrier island residents.
Of the residents, the seasonal folks who have summer homes elsewhere have more disposable income. They mostly stayed away last season; in the aftermath of the storms we are still trying to rebuild from.
Visitors too have been in short supply. Numerous older hotels and motels, especially single-story ones like the historic Thunderbird in Treasure Island (since 1957) are to be demolished. Even some of the taller ones, like the Bellwether Resort, St. Pete Beach’s round hotel with dining on Level 11 and a revolving restaurant on the roof, have been out of business for nine months already. The shortage of visitors has added to the shock of evacuated residents.
Most of the businesses operate without flood insurance due to the high costs, so they self-funded their recovery out of their own pockets when they could or took out SBA loans if they qualified. They were desperate to reopen for business, as their expenses continue and their staff would likely otherwise seek employment elsewhere. The permitting process was a challenge.
Folks who live on and visit the barrier islands value our local businesses. St. Pete Beach has long had the lion’s share of businesses on the beaches. There are three main retail areas in St. Pete Beach, Eighth Avenue in Pass-a-Grille, Gulf Boulevard including Dolphin Village Shopping Center and Corey Avenue (74th Ave).
The county had been replenishing sand on Pass-a-Grille Beach prior to the storms. Helene flooded everything on the ground level and two weeks later, Milton blew most of the sand that was left on the beach into 10-foot drifts on the streets.
Guests are welcome once again at the Tortuga Suite Resort, the Keystone Motel and Berkeley Beach Club, the latter of which is in new hands. Pass-a-Grille restaurants have mostly reopened, except for the Dewey, which seeks a new operator, and the Seahorse, which is progressing daily. Bamboozle, Dody’s Beach Boutique, Evander Preston Gallery, Shadracks and Paradiso are back, as is Etc., now in the hands of new owner, Caryn Bacon. Pass-a-Grille Realty is open for business.
Gulf Boulevard (and Blind Pass Road) are a mixed bag. The absence of Slyce Pizza, Vito and Michaels, Verducci and Hungry Howie’s (at Dolphin Village) has created a potential pizza shortage. Slyce and its neighboring boutiques rented from the presently shuttered PCI Resort.
St. Pete Beach’s Dolphin Village Shopping Center, with the town’s only grocery store and CVS took a triple whammy, but more than a dozen resilient businesses offer a huge variety of goods and services, some unique to this location. The fence around the fire scene from CVS to Publix is disarming but turn left or right and discover more than a dozen businesses looking to greet you. To the left, there’s a Starbucks where the Regions Bank used to be, as well as an Indian restaurant, Dolphin Liquors, Bueno Pizza and a new Jersey Mike’s subs.
We tried the Jersey Mike’s recently and found it well-managed with delicious subs and a staff that aims to please. It is a locally owned and operated premium sub shop. High quality meats and cheese, sliced in front of you, store baked bread, and the authentic taste – served Mike’s Way, fresh lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil, vinegar and spices! Everything is served with a smile. Have an event or party coming up? Jersey Mike’s catering is sure to please – choose from subs by the box, subs by the bag or personal boxed lunches and don’t forget the dessert! Cookie and brownie trays are the perfect finale to any type of gathering. The store is open 7am-9pm daily at 4695 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-258-7884.
Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center, 4737 Gulf Blvd. (behind Jersey Mike’s) takes guests sailing daily for Dolphin Watch and Sunset Sails, as it has for 40 years, on 40-50-foot, locally built and well-maintained Morgan yachts. The only full-service boat center operating in the greater Tampa Bay area, public and private boat trips leave from the waterfront location behind Dolphin Village. Boat trips also include Deep Sea Fishing, Back Bay Fishing and Offshore Fishing plus Power Boat Cruising, Snorkeling, Island Adventures to Egmont Key and Shell Key, and Hospitality Cruises. Captain Dan Peretz also runs a not-for-profit, Soothe Our Souls, which takes families of terminal patients sailing for free, and operates a waterfront clubhouse in Treasure Island, which is rented out for events. Call 727-360-7411 for more info about sailing, fishing, chartering, soothing souls, and event rentals. www.dolphinlandings.com
Turn right on entering the center and you will discover almost a dozen more businesses waiting for your visit. The Dollar Tree space is vacant but there’s a Verizon cellular store with Playa Bowls next door. Upstairs in the courtyard you’ll find The Paramount Ballroom. Downstairs there’s Top Shape Fitness, The Fashion Spot, Beach Vibe Cycle Rentals, Hello Sweetie, Tommy Locksmith, and Shattered Glass DIY Experience.
Top Shape Fitness
St. Pete Beach resident and Top Shape Fitness owner, LeeAnn Moore says “Workout with a personal trainer or utilize the open gym machines, free weights, or cardiovascular equipment, or recover in the infrared sauna. All in a clean environment where you feel comfortable working out at your own pace and level. No annual membership and no initiation fees. Choose a monthly package that works best for your goals or for visitors, select a daily or weekly package. We also accept Silver Sneakers, Renew Active, and Silver & Fit insurance programs. Are you looking to improve your strength or flexibility so you can swing the golf club a little harder or pick up the grandchildren without worry or pain, get ready for the beach, or train for a competitive race? Either way, Top Shape will support you along your journey.” While they are new and have struggled through hurricanes and floods, they have 4.9 stars with 10 reviews on Google. If you need a workout, check out Top Shape Fitness, 4615 Gulf Blvd, Suite #116, St. Pete Beach, 727-338-3269, www.topshapespb.com.
Tommy Locksmith
The Beach’s favorite locksmith has had a showroom at Dolphin Village Shopping Center for years and an ad in Paradise News for most of a decade. We suggest you make an client’s home when I stop by. For the last few years, he has been helping people convert from keys to combination door locks, helping to eliminate the constant search for keys. If you ever lost your door key on the beach, Tommy will be your best friend. Weekdays 9am-5pm. 4615 Gulf Blvd., Unit 118, St. Pete Beach, 727-755-3975. www.tommylocksmith.com.
Shattered Glass DIY
Shattered Glass DIY is a next level DIY experience that gives you a 90-minute hands-on encounter through an artistic journey with glass or resin that you will never forget. This isn’t your average art class. Ages 6 to 90 prepare yourself for an artistic journey! Once you’re in class, it’s time to get into gear, get your gloves and safety glasses on and learn how to cut and create glass to make some of the most beautiful 3D art you have ever seen. This is just one step out of many fun and exciting parts of this next level DIY. “This is one of the best experiences we’ve ever had” is what they hear at Shattered Glass® DIY. It is a great opportunity to make a keepsake to remember your visit, or spend some fun, creative time with family, friends or colleagues. Visit www.shatteredglassdiy.com/stpetebeach and watch the video to get an idea of what can be done.
4615 Gulf Blvd., #119, St. Pete Beach, 727-201-9283