In St. Pete Beach, only 66% of all hotel rooms have reopened, with 700 of the 1,200 still closed.
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — More than a year after back-to-back hurricanes left parts of St. Pete Beach unrecognizable, signs of hope are finally starting to shine through. Residents and visitors alike are welcoming the reopening of one of the area’s most beloved landmarks.
“We were horrified,” longtime local residents said, reflecting on the destruction that swept through the beach community.
Tonight, a very different kind of emotion filled the air as the Beachcomber and its iconic Jimmy B’s Bar reopened their doors to guests from across the country.
For visitors like Michele Lamphier and her best friend, the reopening was a must-see.
“We booked it right away — we woke up at 4 a.m. to come from Boston,” Lamphier said. She added that they were “hoping they could recover so they could reopen. It took over a year, but thank God they’re open.”
Across the street, Odise Armata, owner of Odis Mediterranean Kitchen for the past 17 years, says the hotel’s reopening could bring much-needed foot traffic back to the area.
“The hotel is coming back, across the street is coming soon, so I need my customers, local and tourist. Anything helps,” Armata said.
While the Beachcomber celebrates its return, not all businesses nearby have been able to reopen. One neighboring hotel remains dark after hours, a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges for local business owners.
“It’s a sad place lately. After 5, 6… no cars, dark, dark, dark… everything is sad,” one staff member said.
According to Visit St. Pete–Clearwater, about 95% of hotel rooms in Pinellas County are open. But in St. Pete Beach, only 66% of rooms have reopened, with 700 of the 1,200 still closed.
Despite the challenges, visitors say they are thrilled to see progress, no matter how small.
“We’re back, glad we’re back, very excited,” Lamphier said.