Across from the Marble Slab Creamery and cady-corder to the Grand Movie Theatre in Pier Park in Panama City Beach is a new White Sand Volleyball Court surrounded by a spacious area of new green grass. I love how Simon continues to make Pier Park a great place to just come. Now they just need a play area for the kids.
Kaoru Chikushi from HVS International wrote a piece on Panama City Beach that was published on HospitalityNet.org titled The Need for More Branded Hotels in Panama City Beach, Florida.
You should read it, but I’ll summarize it here.
Chikushi estimates that approximately 7 million visit Panama City Beach each year with around 250,000 spring breakers and 15,000 “snowbirds”. Again, not sure where the numbers came from, but 250,000 sounds much more realistic that the “millions” others in the media tout.
I was glad to see Chikushi references Panama City Beach as “once known as the Redneck Riviera” and describes our area as being in an “era of transformation.” Signaled by the new airport and Pier Park, she finds justification in Panama City being named the #1 place to own real estate in the next 5 years (the Business 2.0 article).
Continue reading “Panama City Beach Needs more Branded Hotels”
Sorry EmeraldCoast.com and Jan Waddy. I know this is your story, and I’m totally copying it word for word on pcbdaily, but I wanted our readers to see this. I give full credit to the story and article to Jan Waddy and Florida Freedom Newspapers.
I love Bootleg Barbeque and was blown away at how good everything was and how well Josh and his staff treated us. The food was phenomenal.
The article:
PANAMA CITY BEACH – “I’ve been in the restaurant business since before I could drive,” said Josh Daugherty, owner of Bootleg Barbecue.
His first job was at “a little barbecue shack in Sandestin,” Pig’s Alley, which is still around.
“Fifteen years later, I was an executive chef at Santa Rosa Beach Club,” said Daugherty. After going the “fine dining route for many years,” he wanted to do “something a little more fun, barbecue.”
“It’s unpretentious,” said Daugherty, “but still has a lot of integrity to it.”
Ah, summertime. When I think of it, almost every time without fail, a certain Sublime song begins to play in my head – nevermind the underlying story. All I remember is “Summertime and the livin’s easy.” And easy living will surely have this fantastic summer we have coming up.
Tourism numbers are up, the weather’s been perfect lately and today we’re announcing the lineup of this summer’s Pier Park Summer Concert Series!
The series is every Thursday evening and begins at 7 pm.
June 7 — Eric Lindell
June 14 — The Black Lillies
June 21 — Telluride
June 28 — The Kevin Jacobs Band
July 5 — Heritage
July 12 — George Porter Jr. and the Runnin’ Pardners
July 19 — The Lee Boys
July 26 — Boukou Groove
August 2 — Heat and the Zydeco Gents
August 9 — Colin Lake
August 16 — The Barry Fish Band
Olive Garden, in Pier Park in Panama City Beach is well under way on schedule to open in the fall of 2008. Construction has been going for several weeks. I would not be surprised if they made it open earlier then the fall.
More pictures after the break.
Solace Salon and Spa Stylists Use FreeStylist™ System To Make Their Blow Dryers Weightless
Panama City Beach, Fl– May 6, 2008 – Area residents don’t have to wait until this week’s edition of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to see how the FreeStylist™ makes salon blow dryers weightless and hair stylists very happy. Stylists at Solace Salon and Spa, in Pier Park, have been using the FreeStylist and their clients have been rapidly spreading the word about blow dryers ‘hanging from the ceiling.’
“We wanted to enhance our guest’s salon experience by streamlining the stylist’s station, removing the tangled cords, and making the blow dryers weightless for our stylists as well,” said owner Jennifer Staerker. “Our stylists love their FreeStylists because it makes their styling service so much easier to provide to our guests.”
The FreeStylist was recommended to the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design team and team leader Ty Pennington by New England distributor R.G. Shakour and will be included in this week’s edition of the popular ABC show. The installation also includes the world premiere of a new salon lighting system that provides a more accurate light resource for hair color service, and it uses 75% less electricity.
Continue reading “May 11th “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Highlights Technology”
PANAMA CITY BEACH – Borders will celebrate the grand opening of its newest concept store beginning Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11 at its new store in Panama City Beach, located at the intersection of Starfish Drive and Bluefish Drive in Pier Park.
The 23,356-square-foot concept store represents a significant enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the company’s mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.
Throughout the weekend-long celebration, Borders will be highlighting its newly created Destinations within the new Borders concept store-Cooking, Travel, Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children’s- with special activities, in-store performances and prizes.
Continue reading “Borders Books and Music Opens at Pier Park”
We’ve been waiting for it, and now it is here. The rest of Pier Park is opened, including Borders, Aeropostale, American Eagle, and more!
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2008)- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the country’s largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate, will celebrate more exciting retailer and restaurant openings from late April through May 1 at Pier Park, located on 93 acres that covers land from Front Beach Road (at the City Pier) to the heavily traveled Highway 98 (Back Beach Road).
New anchors and specialty shops scheduled to premiere include the following:
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2008) – Simon Property Group announces the appointment of Felicia Robinson Cook as director of marketing for Pier Park. Cook boasts more than 20 years of experience in marketing and previously served as the area director of business development for two Simon properties, Independence Center located in Independence, Mo., and West Ridge Mall located in Topeka, Kan.
As the director of marketing, Cook will oversee day-to-day operations and supervise all aspects of the center encompassing budgeting, financial analysis, tenant relations, lease administration, community involvement and marketing.
Continue reading “Pier Park Names Felicia Robinson Cook Director of Marketing”
– Event Expected to Draw Thousands of Thunder Beach Motorcycle Enthusiasts as Additional Stores at Pier Park Open –
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (May 1, 2008) – Pier Park, Panama City Beach’s premiere retail, dining and entertainment venue located on 93 acres that covers land from Front Beach Road (at the City Pier) to heavily traveled Highway 98 (Back Beach Road) is pleased to announce it’s first annual ‘Fun in the Sun’ Street Fair, May 1 -4, which will coincide with the semi-annual Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally and the opening of approximately 30 new stores at Pier Park.
Billed as “The Most Biker Friendly Free Rally in the United States,” the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally is truly a community event and as the area’s newest attraction, Pier Park is anxious to be a part of the Spring 2008 Rally!
Continue reading “Pier Park to Host 'Fun in the Sun' Street Fair This Weekend”
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