Dunkin Donuts Opens Wednesday

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The highly anticipated maker of sweet round treats is all set to open this week as even today, excited teenagers train and eat donuts. Dunkin Donuts on Panama City Beach has been under construction for a couple months, but “in the works for two years,” said owner, Bo Rivard.

Dunkin Donuts opens on Wedesday at 5 am serving all their donut and coffee goodness.

Located at the new Publix Shopping plaza at the intersection of R Jackson Blvd (formerly Bechrich Road) and Back Beach Road, the building is fresh and new and the donuts will be even fresher.

Thomas Drive Mystery Solved!

If you’ve been curious about the huge new development on Thomas drive south of Magnolia and Winn Dixie, we’ve got you covered. But first, some back-story;

Over the last year, if you taken a drive down North Thomas Drive you’ve no doubt noticed major new developments beginning at the turn off Hathaway Bridge down to Grand Lagoon Bridge. You’ve seen more restaurants, banks, grocery stores and retail shopping centers added to the area community. Those updates may be but appetizers to a main-developmental-course. Stimulus money in the sum of $18.5 million and a combination of state and local funds, will be used to expand Grand Lagoon Bridge. The bridge will expand from 150ft to 250ft widening it from two lanes to four and increasing the height over water from 10 to 18ft.

For the last 18 months, planning has been taking place on the bridge expansion, but no funds had been earmarked leaving no definitive timeline for construction. However, with funding tentatively secured, we should begin to see some timelines released. The heightening will be a huge improvement as the current height has been historically limiting to the type and size of boat that property owners on the east side of Grand Lagoon could own.

Stimulus funds will also widen the adjacent North Lagoon feed into Thomas drive into a five-lane highway with room for bike-lanes and sidewalks down to Bristol Street. The area near Grand Lagoon has always been popular with locals, but the planned Grand Lagoon expansion may be an even greater pull for the tourism base as well, which brings us back to the original mystery.

That area being mowed down near Magnolia Beach Road and Winn Dixie is making room for a new restaurant. Another restaurant, whoop dee doo, right? Well, the type of restaurant and the space being allotted for it may surprise you. The huge area is making way for Jasmine Thai Restaurant. This isn’t big news until you consider that a Thai restaurant, somewhat unconventional for Panama City Beach, decided to purchase a long-sitting commercial lot to compete with the likes of Captain Anderson’s and the Treasure Ship. Not only will it compete, but from the looks of it, it has high expectations as three-fifths of the land is being flattened strictly for parking.

Future developments may become a trend if tourist traffic to that area is increased due to the Grand Lagoon Bridge expansion and proof of the location’s economic lure. With the addition of The Saki House II, Hooters, Donut Island and Bruster’s Ice Cream just north, what may have been a jewel area for locals could turn out to be Panama City Beach’s most eclectic and busiest dining experience for tourists. With the revival of the “West-End,” we may see a huge shot in the arm of Panama City Beach’s “East-End.”

Bay County Planning Department did not have a projected completion date or a total square footage but did acknowledged that the restaurant needed a variance for the parking and based on design the restaurant itself will be 50% kitchen and 50% seating, an unusual ratio for the type of establishment.

New Krystal to Open Soon

Laboring in the sweltering hot sun in heavy, humid air, workers chop, grind and cut away at bits and peices of steel forming the walls and structure of what will surely house many memories of family time eating bite-sized burgers. Krystal on Panama City Beach, right across from its old location and Wal-Mart is set to open by July 4th, this summer.

The 2,400 square foot restaurant will have a drive through and dining area and will be right next to an Arby’s, although construction has not begun yet for the roast beef sandwich maker.

Ahh, fond memories of those simple tiny tasty burgers at 4 am still float in my mind from years and years ago. Krystal, they were always there when you needed them most.

Miracle League Field to be Complete by Tomorrow

As workers methodically and swiftly lay down the hexagonal rubber-pellet blocks the painting crews were preparing to paint the in-field of the new Miracle League Baseball Diamond at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. The field is expected to be complete by the end of the day tomorrow.

The field has been under construction for a few months now with the asphalt paving having gone down about 30 days ago. Late last week crews began putting down the rubber blocks, one piece at a time. The entire field is comprised of 30,000 blocks covering 15,000 square feet. The pavers are made of recycled rubber from tires and other disposed rubber products. The garbage rubber is ground into small pellets, cleaned and compressed into a form and held together by an environmentally friendly bond.

Every ten feet, a row is glued down to prevent shifting, but all the others are free floating so as to ease repair or replacement over the years. “We guarantee our surfaces for 5 years, but we have some that are 10 year old that still look fine,” said Jose Rodriguez, Director of Sales and Business Development for Sofscape, the company that is installing the field. “In five years, if the paint begins to fade, you just repaint it and you have a new field.”

As of this post, they had the template forms down for painting the infield. When complete, it will look like a regular baseball diamond with the bases painted on. The entire surface will be flat so as to allow kids in wheelchairs to be able to roll around the bases. If the wind stays down like it was when I was up there, they’ll paint this morning.

As I was leaving, I was talking to Jeanie Quave, the Broker at Edgewater Beach Realty, and we were discussing all the great memories this field will be home to. Many kids will have an opportunity here that they did not have before, and the new field will be home to many great memories for these kids and their families for the rest of their lives. I think it is great the positive impact that this will have on the community, and I commend all those that were involved in making this happen.

On a side note, Jeanie was saying that they still need someone to donate a flag pole and flag, so if there is anyone that is willing and able to do so, please help.

PCB Mystery Solved

On the Eastside of Hutchinson boulevard, across from Walmart, there was a huge slab of concrete flattening a large building-less area. That area used to be Clark’s Realty Storage and, as of late, has been a paradise of sorts for skateboarders honing their skill. But recently, sightings of trucks and bulldozers have sparked interesting debates as to what will eventually occupy that prime location.

Well, the speculation is over.

Sources have acknowledged that Panhandle Engineering is building, surprise-surprise, a large commercial plaza. That’s no big news, really. What may be big news for some PCB residents is that this new plaza will be the location of the somewhat-heralded return of Krystal Burgers. If you remember, as I do, there used to be a Krystal Burger on Front Beach Road and those tasty little burgers were the rave for party-goers looking for a midnight meal. For Northerners who don’t know Krystal Burger, it is basically White Castle, but you didn’t hear that from me.

Other than an Arby’s, no other businesses have been named, but we will keep you updated on who’s selling and who’s buying space.

Groundbreaking New Library

Mayor Gayle Oberst and the City of Panama City Beach broke ground Thursday for the new Panama City Beach public library. Architectural design by Collins & Associates and construction by the Construct Two Group, the new building will sit on the corner of Hutchinson Boulevard and Lyndell Lane and will be nearly triple the size of the current public library.

Under roof, the new building will house 11,000 square feet and outside will have 240 parking spaces. Panama City Beach Library Branch Manager Frank Walker said, “They’ll be more computers, more shelf space, and a children’s room with children’s programs. We’re thrilled about it.”

Mayor Oberst expects the new library to be a history making event, “Panama City Beach isn’t a very old city,” She said. “A public library builds a history and enriches a community.”

The architectural design went through a few phases before the final decision. With help from the library administrative staff and employees, the new building will have an open space feel, spacing out the shelves to add more walking area. Rooms dedicated to reading, children’s programs and a literacy meeting room will provide additional space for those activities. There will also be more room for books, which means a better overall selection and an upgraded research system.

Although this seems like a large task, the completion date for the new library is set tentatively for February 2010. Charles Lewis, Director of Construction Operations at the Construct Two Group believes that date is reachable. Mr. Lewis said, simply, “That’s more than enough time.” Mayor Oberst is optimistic about the date as well; “By this time next year we’ll be able to walk through the doors of this beautiful new building.”

The new library will cost just over 2 million dollars and was funded by impact fees and donations through donor recognition programs. Construction is set to begin this month.

Wonderworks Coming to Panama City Beach

“Let your imagination run wild, that’s the wonder of Wonderworks,” or so goes the tune on the Wonderworks web site. Wonderworks, essentially a huge place to play seems to be coming to Panama City Beach. I use the word “seems” because I still have yet to be able to get in contact with someone that has any solid information on this. Perhaps this is where an “investigative reporter” would come in. Currently there is a location in Pigeon Forge, TN and Orlando, FL.

So far, I’ve found full building plans (thanks Aaron!), information for bidders of the project and heard from a dozen or so people that it will be located next to Walgreens at the intersection of Front Beach and Middle Beach Road.

According to some of the information I’ve found, the building will be a 4 story 36,000 square foot space filled with entertainment including exhibits, small rides, video games and more.

As quoted from the Pigeon Forge, TV location’s web site:

When you enter the building, everything will be upside down, so in order to participate in the fun, you must be inverted. Once you’re properly aligned for your adventure, Family Fun awaits with more than 120 interactive, hands-on exhibits. As the Building hurtled skyward it encountered what can only be described as a time portal.

The building from the outside looks as though it has been planted in the ground upside down, apparently the one here will look the same, according to the elevation that I’ve seen. The site next to Walgreens is cleared and ready for development. I’ve heard that the Walsinghams (they own Ripley’s) are the ones behind Wonderworks here, which would make sense as it is the same basic concept as their Ripley’s museum. Of course, it helps that he owns the property also, all .68 acres of it.

In quoting Ignacio, the Luchador: So anywayz – I’ll keep you updated as I find more info, in my strretchy paunts.

New Waterpark in Panama City Beach – Plans

Well, thanks to some good friends is high places, I was able to get my grubby little hands on the plans for the new waterpark that is coming to Panama City Beach. From the looks of it, the new park seems to have all the necesary features to add quite nicely to the things to do in Panama City Beach.

Some of the items of attraction include a wave pool, activity pool, interactive play structure (envision a three story jungle-gym that pumps water through it in ways even the imagination cannot fully predict), lazy river, inner-tube slides, a family raft ride, and a whole “zone” for surfing.

Enough talk! Here’s the plans.

Edit 3/23/09:

I’d like to apologize for not being clear as to where this was. I had specified that in my other post on this, but I should have specified that on this as well. sorry! I’d also like to apologize for the delay in response to this.

Below is a map of where it will be located. The new park will be on the east side of Clara Avenue in between Middle Beach and Front Beach Road. The entire property is around 30 acres, although half of that will be parking. In the plans is a Flow-Rider surfing feature – more info on that soon!

New Waterpark to Come to Panama City Beach

Well, this isn’t exactly breaking news, but I read the other day that a new waterpark may be coming to Panama City Beach. WMBB broke the story day before yesterday.

At the intersection of Clara and Front Beach Road, a new waterpark is being planned. The owners, Sterling, purchased the property in 2005.

The original article can be found here.

I was talking to a friend over lunch yesterday who had heard some “back-door” meetings and said that it will be more of an water-attraction, rather than a water-park. It is unclear at this point whether this new attraction will be real competition to the Shipwreck Island Waterpark just a half mile away.

Although I love Shipwreck Island, it will be very nice to see another attraction come into the area, this is sorely needed to supliment what we have. Nothing breeds advancement like alittle competition.

More Sidewalks on South Thomas Drive

Well, the County is doing it again – using your tax dollars for improvement. Good for you Bay County. The project started back in June and paved sidewalks from the intersection of Joan Avenue to Ocean Street. Now the project continues from Ocean street down to Venus Street.

This phase in the construction includes the installation of a stormwater system consiting of three 18 inch diameter cross drain pipes under Thomas Drive bewtween Choctaw and Walnut Streets. Over the last 10 days sections of Thomas Drive have been closed on one side to accomodate the construction.