{"id":27404,"date":"2025-10-31T02:09:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T02:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/27404\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T02:09:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T02:09:10","slug":"beachcomber-reopens-in-st-pete-beach-after-helene-damage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/27404\/","title":{"rendered":"Beachcomber reopens in St. Pete Beach after Helene damage"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. \u2014\u00a0The Beachcomber in St. Pete Beach welcomed guests back on Thursday for the first time in 13 months after being flooded by Hurricane Helene, and the hotel has already sold out<\/a> a weekend next month, according to Managing Director\u00a0Shaun\u00a0Kwiatkowski.<\/p>\n

What You Need To Know<\/p>\n

The Beachcomber in St. Pete Beach reopened on Thursday after being closed for 13 months
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Hurricane Helene sent a nearly 5 foot storm surge onto the hotel property in September 2024
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All of the rooms on the first floor were flooded and have since been refurbished\u00a0
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The Beachcomber already sold out the second weekend in November<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely an amazing feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes all of the work worth it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last year, Helene sent a nearly 5 foot storm surge that washed over the beachfront property and destroyed all 50 rooms on the first floor, according to Kwiatkowski. All of those rooms have since been refurbished.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew walls, new paint, new floor, all new furniture,\u201d said Shaun Kwiatkowski. \u201cWe took a little different approach to kind of the feel. We made it a little bit lighter and coastal feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Beachcomber Resort in St. Pete Beach began welcoming guests tonight for the first time in 13 months, after Hurricane Helene devastated the property. Nearly 60 employees are now back on the job and the hotel is bringing a much needed 102 rooms online. @BN9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2iRnxyATb6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Josh Rojas (@JoshRojasBN9) October 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The hotel has a total of 102 rooms, which Pinellas County is eager to add back to its bed tax rolls. Vacation rentals and hotels still closed in Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach have dragged down the bed tax numbers for this past fiscal year, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.<\/p>\n

The three major resorts that remain closed in St. Pete Beach include\u00a0The Postcard Inn, The Bellwether and the Dolphin Resort. Kwiatkowski said there has been some pent-up demand for the Beachcomber to open, which their occupancy rates reflect.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo this weekend we\u2019re pretty busy. We\u2019re going to be sitting in the 70 percent range,\u201d he said. \u201cThen next weekend, we are sold out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Charlie Justice said the Beachcomber reopening will help nearby businesses that saw their foot traffic dramatically decline during the closure. He\u2019s also excited for the nearly 60 hotel employees who got their jobs back.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo stand here and to look at all of those employees who are back at work,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, nothing better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The locals were excited to see the world-famous Jimmy B\u2019s reopen with its wood-decked bar and daily live music. Kwiatkowski said planting the \u2018live music\u2019 banners in the sand for beachgoers was very symbolic for the staff after keeping people off the property for more than one year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to put our signs back up that we\u2019re open,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the team, this was really monumental for them because they\u2019re able to welcome customers back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Beachcomber has been a staple in the community for more than 50 years.\u00a0Kwiatkowski said Helene was the first storm to flood the property.<\/p>\n