Panama City Beach Pier Park Taking Off

Last Friday concluded a week long series of announcements by the Simon Property Group with the news that Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville is coming to Pier Park at Panama City Beach.

Friday’s announcement completed the week’s total of seven new businesses to locate at the 900,000 square-foot retail and entertainment complex located on 93 acres that covers land from Front Beach Road (at the City Pier) to the heavily traveled Highway 98 (Back Beach Road).

Announcements last Wednesday included ULTA cosmetics, Calabria’s Italian Grill, Camille’s Sidewalk Café, Candy Maker Candy Stores, Trader Tom’s Shells & Gifts, and Del Sol. A 125,000 square-foot Dillard’s was announced on Thursday. Last week’s announcements brings the current number of restaurant, retail, and entertainment businesses to 16.

This latest round of new retailers join Old Navy, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Back Porch Seafood House, Panera Bread, Reggae J’s Island Grill and Starbucks. Target opened last October and Southern Theater with its sixteen screens and 3,300 seats will open this May.

Electricity was in the air at the Greater Panama City Beach Chamber’s monthly “Friday at the Beach” program where Simon’s final announcement of the week was made.

Marta Rose, the Chamber’s senior vice president for marketing and public relations voiced the sentiments of most saying, “It can’t get here soon enough. We’re all looking forward to it.”

Must be pretty upsetting to all those who said it couldn’t or wouldn’t happen when they drive by and see the construction underway and hear about the positive image these retailers have that persuades them to invest and to put their corporate fortunes on the line.

You’ll be able to catch a movie and dinner at Pier Park sooner than you think.