The Beachcomber and the Hilton Garden Inn on St. Pete Beach have been neighbors for years, and now, they’re sister hotels, too. OTO Development this week announced the acquisition of The Beachcomber, adding to its growing portfolio of Tampa Bay Area hotels, which includes the nextdoor Hilton Garden Inn.
The Beachcomber and its popular restaurant and bar, Jimmy B’s, suffered damage from the 2024 hurricanes, with the beachfront restaurant finally making its long-awaited return this past winter. In their announcement, OTO Development implied there will be no immediate major changes to the property, which is good news for fans of the iconic restaurant and hotel.
The newly renovated and reopened Jimmy B’s. Photo via Visit St. Pete-Clearwater
Jimmy B’s Beach Bar and Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn are already two of the busiest beach bars in Pinellas County, and with their neighbors they will soon be in the middle of one of the most popular stretches of beach entertainment in Florida.
To the north, the soon-to-open hotel The Luce (formerly Postcard Inn) has undergone a full transformation, including the rebranding of the iconic beach bar as Sundrop, expected to open this summer. Immediately to the south lies the sprawling TradeWinds Island Resort properties with nearly half a dozen restaurants and bars between them, a mix of casual outdoor settings and more elevated options inside the resort properties.
The South Carolina-based OTO Development now running two of the properties in the middle of that stretch provides unique opportunities, according to CEO Rob Rain.
“We are intrigued by the potential synergy between The Beachcomber and Hilton Garden Inn,” he said. “This is an exciting addition to OTO’s growing portfolio in the Tampa-St. Pete market. The Beachcomber complements our nearby properties, positioning us to meet continued demand from the millions of tourists who visit St. Pete Beach each year.”
The Beachcomber, 6200 Gulf Blvd, sits on four acres of St. Pete Beach, offering 102 guest rooms and 2,100 square feet of indoor meeting space. Amenities include two outdoor pools, direct beach access, and the iconic Jimmy B’s Beach Bar. OTO Development already owns and operates four hotels in the Tampa Bay region, totaling 579 keys: AC Hotel St. Petersburg, Hampton Inn & Suites Ybor City, DoubleTree North Redington Beach, and Hilton Garden Inn St. Pete Beach.