And The Golden Spoon Goes To… Firefly

Congratulations to Panama City Beach’s Firefly Restaurant on winning the Golden Spoon for the second year in a row! The Golden Spoon Award is given by Florida Trend magazine in recognition of the exquisite cuisine and outstanding ambiance found at Firefly. “We are thrilled to receive the award for the second year in a row,” said owner Dave Trepanier. “Excellence and creativity is something we strive for to set us apart from other Panama City Beach restaurants. It is our chef and staff that continually make us great every day, and this award is a direct reflection of that.”

Firefly is located in the Shoppes at Edgewater and was commended by Florida Trend on having “urbane dining with lots of fish, local oysters and serious sushi, plus a chef who dares eggplant pancakes and boar shanks.”

If you haven’t been to Firefly yet- it might be time for you to try it! Congratulations on the second Golden Spoon Firefly!

Treasure Ship to be Demolished

The iconic Treasure Ship which burned in April of 2010 was supposed to be torn down, but over a year later it still stands- reminding tourists that they can no longer visit the Treasure Ship Restaurant. The restaurant was a staple for visitors to Panama City Beach, and it’s burning broke many hearts.

A permit for demolition was signed June 2nd by the owner of the property, but the permit has now expired. This has caused the city to threaten demolishing the structure as early as next week. The city is hoping that the owner will renew her permit and demolish the remaining structure, because it is faster, easier, and less expensive than the city having to do it.

Many people would love to see the building fixed and running as it used to, however; it has been made clear that this won’t happen. The city would like to see it torn down before next years hurricane season hits, as it is an unsafe structure and could be made dangerous in the high winds.

Here is a link to the article written about the fire in 2010 and a link to the article about the decision not to rebuild.

Do you have any thoughts about the iconic building being demolished?

Forever 21, Charming Charlie, and More to Pier Park

Pier Park has recently lost Borders, Guy Harvey’s, and opened up a few other vacancies – however they are soon to be filled! Pier Park will be home to Dick’s Last Resort, Marshalls, Forever 21, Charming Charlie, and Francesa’s Collection.

Dick’s Last Resort

Moving in where Guy Harvey’s Island Grill was located is Dick’s Last Resort, a restaurant and bar known for an intentionally obnoxious staff. Dick’s is expected to open sometime this winter. You can learn more about Dick’s Last Resort and view their menu online.

Marshalls

Marshalls will be located between The Dollar Tree and Red Robin on the North Side of Pier Park. Marshall’s offers brand name items at reasonable prices, including clothing, accessories, shoes, and household items for the entire family. Visit Marshall’s online for more information about their products. It is expected to open November 5.

Forever 21

Forever 21, a womens clothing store, will be opening in Spring 2012 where Border’s was formerly located. The Panama City Location will be 23,205 sq feet of clothing, shoes, accessories, and intimate apparel. If you’d like to see what to expect at the Forever 21 in Pier Park, visit their website.

Charming Charlie

A newer accessories business, Charming Charlie, is also coming to Pier Park. Charming Charlie was founded in Texas and has been expanding to new locations as fast as possible since its birth and instant popularity. Visit Charming Charlie online to see why they are such a popular store.

Francesca’s Collection

A unique store for women’s apparel, accessories, and gifts is Francesca’s. These stores are also becoming more popular and expanding to many new locations. You can visit the website to learn more about the products available at Francesca’s Collection.

Where you do plan to visit first or most frequent?