Jason Koertge has an awesome vacation rental business in Panama City Beach that focuses on remarkable properties right on the gulf.  They range from 1 to 4 bedrooms, they’re clean, and amazing.  He can be found lurking at PCBLP.com.

Grab your shopping bags and bring your appetite because Pier Park is adding some new shops and restaurants.  It’s no secret how popular of a destination Pier Park is, and with over 110 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, it’s certainly not surprising either.

There are a couple new additions that either just opened, or about to open, and a number of new retailers that will open in the next few months.

Two new restaurants.

Dick’s Last Resort will bring a new dining experience to Panama City Beach, unlike any other.  The restaurant features outrageous, surly and energetic wait staff, tasty comfort food and live entertainment.  The restaurant opened Monday in the former Guy Harvey’s Island Grill space.

Just in time for Spring Break, Rum Runners will open in March in the “E” Shops just south of the Grand Theatre (in place of where Guglielmo’s was).  The restaurant will offer a casual dining atmosphere and full-service bar featuring a mix of live entertainment including dueling piano shows and interactive customer participation in a tropical Caribbean-style setting.

Both will add a fitting flair for vacationers in our warm, tropical weather.

Other new additions for 2012.

French Charmed recently opened at Pier Park and offers its shoppers French country décor and European-inspired goods.  Many of the collections are unique and expertly hand crafted.  The boutique is located on the Boardwalk between Polk a Dots Toys & Gifts and Latitude 29.

Also opening in February will be Francesca’s Collections which specializes in gifts, apparel, home accessories and jewelry that reflect fashionable styles from all over the world.  The new store will be located next to Bath & Body Works in the Town Center.

Joining the Florida panhandle as the first in the market, Charming Charlie will offer a unique fashion accessory boutique designed to help women of all ages complete their outfits, regardless of the occasion or mood.  The accessory store will be located in the Town Center.

Pepper Palace will open its doors in March.  Offering a variety of spicy food products from an assortment of hot sauces to habanero corn bread mix, this hot spot will be a favorite for fiery foodies.  The new store will be located on the Boardwalk’s west side between Accessories on the Boardwalk and Gamestop.

Celebrated by many style conscious and trend savvy shoppers, Forever 21 will boast more than 23,205-square-feet of space, occupying the former Border’s location.  This new store will offer a variety of apparel, shoes and accessories aimed at customers of all ages.

More about Pier Park.

Just in case you’ve been under a rock for the last 4 years, Pier Park is one of the single best things that has happened to Panama City Beach.  With the development of Pier Park came the creation of a retail destination that has provided a place for people to not only shop, but hang out, recreate.

With over 110 shops and restaurant, there is 1.1 million square feet of retail shopping space and an aesthetic design that’s conducive for family fun.

The bottom of their most recent press release reads:

The multi-dimensional property also hosts numerous free community events throughout the year. Large-scale signature events include the New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop and the Star Spangled-Spectacular July 4 concert and fireworks show.  Pier Park will keep the spirit alive this year with a Mardi Gras festival.  The colorful event will be held on February 17 and 18 and will include a Second Line Parade Friday evening the 17^th and a Children’s Parade at 1:00pm with the big parade shortly after.  The Bourbon Street Village will open Friday at noon and there will be a car show as well.

Jason Koertge has an awesome vacation rental business in Panama City Beach that focuses on remarkable properties around the Pier Park area.  They range from 1 to 3 bedrooms, they’re clean, and amazing.  He can be found at PCBLP.com.

With all the talk of Walmart coming into the area, it’s spurred even more activity.  Although Target’s making no claims of “keeping up with the Jones,” or in this case, “Walmart”, their push to add an expanded grocery section is certainly a plan to keep them ahead.  The Walmart that is being installed adjacent to Target, right across Powell Adams Road, is rumored to have a significant grocery area including produce and meats – although nothing official has been announced.

What we can expect at Target.

Target already has a pretty good grocery section.  It is certainly not Publix (or a Walmart Supercenter for that matter), but our family’s spontaneous needs can typically be met there.  They have milk, eggs, deli meats, some frozen foods, ice cream, cereal, chips, coffee, bread and tons of other essentials, and it’s all very fairly priced.  Shoot, we often do our grocery shopping there.

With the reorganization they’re adding fresh produce and meats and expanding on the other item types they already carry.  This will make them more of a one-stop shop and should bring in more grocery shoppers.  If it’s decent produce, it’ll draw our family in, along with countless others.

Target is also getting remodeled.

Just less than 5 years after opening, they’re giving the inside a significant overhaul.  You may have noticed the circus-tent-looking structure to the side of the building, next to the retired garden center – that’s the staging area for the work being done.

Expect new paint inside, new end cap designs, new isle layouts, isle shifts and a fresh new look.

When it’ll be complete.

Timing is everything right?  The new Walmart hasn’t even broke ground yet, much less begun moving dirt.  But the remodeled Target, groceries, and produce should be complete by mid-March.  Employees are expecting things to be ready for spring break.  This is well suited for what is projected to be, again, the busiest rental season ever.  As we just learned, last year broke records, if 2012 is better, then we’ll break more records.

What are your thoughts on the new Target? Do you think it’ll compete with whatever Walmart puts in?  Would you shop there?

The economy in Panama City Beach has been improving and with that developers have decided to build a 400,000-square foot shopping center across from Pier Park.  The new development will be on the North side of Back Beach Road adjacent to Frank Brown Park on approximately 60-acres.  They are hoping to open Pier Park North by Spring 2013 after beginning construction in Spring 2012.

The outdoor shopping area has been named Pier Park North, but is a competitor rather than an expansion.  Simon Property Group owns Pier Park and its competitor Glimcher Development Group owns Pier Park North.

Leases have been signed for 50% of the space, including one large anchor store, however the Glimcher Development Group plans to announce these names at a later date.  There have been rumors of the prospective stores to call Pier Park North home.

Prospective Stores

• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Michaels
• Fresh Market
• Pier 1 Imports
• Kirklands
• Ross Dress for Less
• Shoe Carnival
• Petco
• Toys R Us
• Rooms to Go
• Men’s Warehouse
• VisionWorks
• Osaka’s
• Cheddars

How do you think the competition will be against Pier Park?

The cooler weather is rolling in, but it isn’t stopping the events in Panama City Beach! Here is a look at some of the events around town this weekend:

Marshalls Grand Opening

October 27, 2011- Pier Park

Marshalls, where you should “never pay full price for fabulous,” is ready to open its doors this Thursday!  Marshalls shops year round to provide brand names and popular fashions at low price. Pier Park will be it’s newest home.

Margaritaville’s Coast is Clear Locals Party

October 27, 2011- Margaritaville, Pier Park

Celebrating the end of summer and peak season, Margaritaville is hosting an event for the PCB locals.  Enjoy live music, drink specials, $5 food specials, prize giveaways,and get your Locals VIP Card! From 5:00 to 8:00 pm, prizes will be given away each hour, including one pair of tickets to see Jimmy Buffet live in concert!  Thank-you Margaritaville for celebrating the locals!

Gulf Coast Chiropractic & Rehab’s Ladies Night of Indulgence Fall Luau

October 27, 2011- Gulf Coast Chiropractic and Rehab

From 5:30-7:30 pm, ladies are invited to indulge in complimentary drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, free massage, and entertainment.  This is a free event from Gulf Coast Chiropractic and Rehab which will include skin care product demos, jewelry, self-spray tanning, hair feathers, art, pilates, health and wellness, microdermabrasion treatments, yoga, orthotic testing, and more.  All for free, so ladies- don’t miss this event!

Conservation Park Grand Opening

October 29, 2011- Conservation Park

It’s opening day at Conservation Park and promises to be a day full of fun!  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served from 12pm-2pm, along with giveaways and other fun activities.  A 10K, 5K, and 1 mile family fun run will start at 8am to commemorate the event. More information about the run is available here.  The premise behind this park is to reclaim wetlands that were altered through tree-farming practices.  Many trails and bike paths wil run through the property, as well as a wood-framed porch for park guests.  Enjoy a day in the Florida outdoors!

Have a safe and fun weekend getting massages, shopping at Marshalls, eating at Margaritaville, and walking around Conservation 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?

There has been quite a bit of commotion at Pier Park this week.  Monday, Guy Harvey’s Island Grill closed down and it was announced that Dick’s Last Resort was coming in this off-season.  Guy Harvey’s has been a tenant almost since the beginning, located at the corner of S Pier Park Drive and Front Beach Road next to Reggae J’s.  Their menu consisted of fresh gulf seafood short of a few select species that Harvey deemed depleted.  The entrance was a gift shop that hosted shirts, art, belts, and many other varieties of schwag.

I’m not even going to get into speculation as to what happened.

Dick’s Last Resort

Dick’s last resort is known for its “outrageous, surly and energetic wait staff and tasty comfort food.”  They have locations in Nashville, Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, Dallas, Baltimore, San Antonio, San Diego, Chicago, Boston and Vegas.  And looking at that location lineup, that puts Panama City Beach up there with the big dogs.

“At Dick’s Last Resort, we’re known for having a good time, but we’re very selective about where we do business,” said CEO Ted Moats. “Pier Park and Panama City Beach are a natural fit for the fun, energetic atmosphere we offer, and we are very excited to open our doors and meet the local community and visitors.”

“Dick’s Last Resort is a perfect fit for the Panama City Beach market,” said Felicia Cook, Pier Park’s Director of Marketing & Business Development. “With so many of their locations open in top tier tourist destinations, we’re thrilled that they’ve decided to open in Pier Park.”

Dick’s should open sometime this winter.

With the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Grand Theatre in Pier Park opened their IMAX screen, which has been in the works for a couple months.  If you’ve not seen a movie in IMAX, you have to try it – it truly takes you into the movie.

Dubbed, “the world’s most immersive movie experience,” IMAX touts 12,000 watts of digital surround sound, crystal clear images, the world’s largest movie screens. This sounds fascinating and fun, but how does it do this?

How IMAX works.

IMAX combines a huge screen with a state-of-the-art projection system and a very advanced sound system.  The typical IMAX screen is 52′ x 72′ – which is the size of The Grand’s. In addition to the huge size, the screen has a curvature to it that helps to “bring the viewer into the movie.”  What really makes the magic happen is the two projectors that push the imagery onto the screen and the rumbling sound that you feel in your gut.  The projector uses xenon short-arc lamps that fire a light so bright, the video on the screen is crisp and clear.  The sound system is a complex array of surround sound speakers that offers a crystal clear listening experience and seat-shaking bass.  You hear every crackle, pop, and whisper with complete accuracy.

What’s showing and the price.

Currently Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is playing IMAX at the Grand.  And let me tell you, it’s simply amazing.  They only have one IMAX theater, so only one feature film will be playing at a time.  Harry Potter is expected to play until August 4th at which point Sector 7: An IMAX 3D Experience is expected to play until the 9th when Cowboy’s Vs. Aliens comes out.

The ticket price is as follows:

• $12 on Tuesdays
• $12.50 for matinee
• Evenings are $15.25 for adults and $12.50 for kids

At this time, an additional IMAX theater is not being planed for for The Grand, but there is another theater room that would be suitable for the upgrade, should the demand arise.

Have you been to our IMAX or another one?  What were your thoughts on it?

Pier Park and Panama City Beach, are in for a sandwich influx this season.

Along with the news of Subway opening up in Pier Park, sandwich enthusiast can look forward to Schlotzsky’s moving in and joining the Pier Park family.

Schlotzsky’s started it’s nation wide take-over, with humble origins that date back to 1971.  Originally launched in Austin, Texas with a basic menu comprised of sourdough bread and a selection of premium meats, cheeses and olives.

The humble beginning eventually morphed into 35 locations nationwide and four foreign locations. I have to say, I wish I would have known that during my travels through out Spain.

I loved trying out the local cuisine, but every now and then, even an American Girl traveling abroad, craves the simple taste of home. Be it toasted sub, or a New York bagel.

Schlotzsky’s Pier Park store is opening it’s doors on February 21, 2011 and boast an eclectic selection of subs, wraps, salads and gourmet pizzas, along with desserts and soups.

Details Below

PANAMA CITY Beach, FL – Schlotzsky’s,home of The Original® round toasted sandwich and famous Fresh-from-Scratch® buns, will open its first ”Lotz Better” location in Panama City Beach at Pier Park.

“With our addictive recipes, upbeat surroundings and funny sayings, we’re adding tremendous flavor to the Panama City Beach quick-casual dining scene,” said Umesh Patel, owner of the new Schlotzsky’s in Panama City Beach. “It’s hard not to smile when you walk into our bright new restaurants, smell the dough baking and see how much fun we have with ‘bun humor.’ Panama City Beach is in for a real treat.”

The new restaurant was built with Schlotzsky’s rebranding efforts in mind, which include a newly designed restaurant, a co-branding deal with Cinnabon® and a new service model where crew members hand-deliver food to the tables. Everything from tables and chairs to circular-themed local photography featuring tongue-in-cheek phrases is designed to entertain and cater to the guest.

Schlotzsky’s of Panama City Beach offers more than 15 different sandwiches on their famous unique round freshly baked buns, as well as wraps, gourmet pizzas made with Fresh-from-Scratch crusts, freshly tossed salads and a variety of soups. Schlotzsky’s also offers a number of delectable desserts, including Cinnabon’s warm, homemade Cinnabon® Classic Roll and CinnaPacks™.

“With all of the new elements that enhance the Schlotzsky’s experience, we stay true to our roots by offering only the highest quality fresh ingredients and baking our sourdough bread from scratch every day,” said Schlotzsky’s President Kelly Roddy. “We are truly excited to give Panama City Beach a taste of the ‘Lotz Better’ Schlotzsky’s.”

For those of you wanting to “eat fresh” in Pier Park, now you can.  Subway opened today, in place of a highly troubled Sheesha Cafe in what would have been a loud outbreak of applause, had it all happened in front of a live studio audience.

Some of you may recognize Subway as that good ‘ol sub shop that was made infamous with Jared Fogle in the 90′s touting some really huge pants as a garment that previously was “his size.”  I’ll forever remember subway as one of those great lunch places in which I can get a $5 sub in midst of great company.

Subway’s recent ad campaign includes a promotion on Facebook in which they are offering any of their foot long subs for $5, dubbed Februany.

So, where was this place called Sheesha Cafe that now holds the warm aroma of fresh bread and cold cuts?  Easy.  Right next to Starbucks, across from the Grand, around the corner from Marble Slab, in the promo area and next to what may soon be confirmed as the first Schlotzsky’s on the beach.

A few weeks back, dirt began to be moved and sand was brought in for something all new to Pier Park in Panama City Beach.  Just across the street from the new Miracle Strip @ Pier Park, in the long-vacant and undeveloped lot, they’ve moved in 3,600 tons of crystal white sand that rivals the perfect sand we walk on, on our beaches every day.  What is the meaning of this, you may be asking yourself.  I’ll tell you.

The whole idea was to create a place where people can kick off their shoes or flops and relax and enjoy events, festivals, activities, or whatever the creatives over at Pier Park can come up with.  Picture it with me: warm sea breeze, cool tunes, smooth sand in your toes, beach chairs and food and shopping just a short walk away at any given moment.

To keep the sun at bay, large poles are being erected in which huge swaths of outdoor fabric will be stretched between to create shade structures.  If you are having issues imagining this, just jaunt on over the the Frank Brown Park aquatic center and take a peek at their shade structures.  That’s what we’ll see at Pier Park.

The beach is expected to be open on the 28th of August, just in time for the tailgate party weekend that will be raging through Panama City Beach.  Simon Property Group, Pier Park’s owners, are footing the bill for the beach, and it will play home to many fun memories in the future.