Busch Compound demolished in December, the former winter home of baseball and beer mogul August A. Busch Jr., which sold for just under $5.4 million in 2017 was torn down in Pass A Grill. A demolition permit had been applied for and was reviewed by the St. Pete Beach Historic Review Board earlier in 2023. The “Busch compound” had been on and off the market since 2008 when it was listed for just under $20 million. Busch built the estate in the 1950s so he could be near where his St. Louis Cardinals trained in downtown St. Petersburg, and near Tampa’s Busch Gardens theme park. The compound of three fully-furnished-waterfront homes with beer taps and a 50-foot-long yacht dock, even bore the Anheuser-Busch logo at the bottom of the pool. Visitors to the Busch estate included the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Farrah Fawcett, Frank Sinatra, and Arnold Palmer. Busch stayed in a Gulf front home he also owned a block away, and entertained guests at the estate, a whole block fronting Pass-a-Grille Way and the Intracoastal Waterway. After Busch died in 1989 at age 90, the estate was sold to Tampa beer distributor Arthur Pepin. In 1997 it was sold to John Dasilva, who had worked there as a boy. His plan to promote the estate as a corporate getaway upset neighbors and involved Dasilva in a years-long battle with St. Pete Beach officials. In 2000, the city settled, clearing the way for Dasilva to obtain a resort license. The resort license has been surrendered and a single-family home is planned to be built on the site.
Downtown in December, Blue Innovations Group (BIG) marine technology company debuted its flagship R30 electric recreational boat combining advanced technologies and timeless styling. Founder/CEO John Vo says the first electric boat made in St. Petersburg “will provide the ultimate boating experience for customers with uncompromised safety, performance, style, and value while being environmentally friendly.” The R30 is a 30-foot electric cabin cruiser boat with a 221-kWh battery pack, 800 hp dual motor powertrain, integrated UI, and solar charging capability. The R30’s stern ocean terrace combined with the vessel’s silent and pollution-free propulsion system is a game changer.
Kudos Six extraordinary women have been named honorees of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida’s annual Women of Distinction: Marilyn Alvarez, Alison Barlow, retired Gen. Ann Dunwoody, and Bemetra Simmons will be honored as Women of Distinction, along with Diana Walker as this year’s Woman of Promise. Renée Vaughn will be inducted into the Women of Distinction Hall of Fame. This year’s luncheon will take place on International Women’s Day, March 8, at Armature Works. Learn more about these remarkable women and the event at gswcf.org/wod.
An Extraordinary Gentleman Raymond James veteran Tom James retire from the board of directors in 2024. The legendary Raymond James executive served as CEO for four decades and as chairman emeritus since 2017, when he stepped aside for new leadership. He’ll retire Feb. 22, having served for 48 years as a director – including 40 as CEO. He will, however, keep an office at its headquarters “and continue in several advisory roles both business and charitable, working part-time at the firm,” according to a statement. “At age 81, it is time for me to reduce my time with firm responsibilities and spend more time with my wife, Mary, outside of business,” James said in a statement. “We have an excellent board and management team, and I am proud of their accomplishments,” he added. James is the founder of The James Museum of Western Art and Wildlife, a downtown St. Pete world-class museum.
The Julia Jewel (featured photo), another luxe condo, is going up on 100 Fourth Ave. N with 19 residences, ranging from 1,905 to 3,132 square feet, priced from $1.6 million with only two per floor. Each residence is a testament to meticulous design, featuring premium interior finishes, expansive terraces, and awe-inspiring city views. The “Sky Lofts” offer a living experience unlike any other, with 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows spanning over two stories and a private elevator entry. The pièce de résistance is the penthouse unit on the entire 18th floor, providing a 360-degree panorama of the city’s splendor.
Over The Moon Steve Eisele is the new president and chief revenue officer of Lonestar Data Holding. The Mexican American astronaut’s life inspired a movie and the former vice president at Virgin Orbit will help lead the St. Peterburg-based company located in the Innovation District’s Maritime and Defense Technology Hub as they plan to build the first network of data centers on the Moon. Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lonestar) is a leader in pioneering premium lunar and CIS lunar data solutions.
I Spy A New Y In December, the new Speer YMCA (495 62nd Ave. NE) opened, sharing the campus with Mangrove Middle School. The Y features a variety of personal fitness areas, the latest cardio and strength-training equipment, cable and functional training equipment, power racks with platforms and new plate-loaded options. There’s an outdoor wellness terrace fully equipped with turf, training rack and rig, flip tires and more plus three group exercise studios to accommodate the latest LES MILLS™ programming, Zumba®, yoga, Pilates and a dedicated cycling studio featuring the Life Fitness IC7. The main-floor studio hosts dance classes and senior-specific programs. There’s also a Kid Zone, Aquatic Center, Tech equipped room for eSports gaming with 10 individual computers, as well as a television for group instruction and game leagues.
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Wins 4 Adrian Awards! Congrats on accolades for Gulf to Bay Destination Magazine – Silver Adrian; BarbieCore PR Consumer Campaign – Silver Adrian; Like a Local Influencer Campaign – Bronze Adrian;The Ultimate Cheat Meals of St. Pete – Bronze Adrian. Each year, the HSMAI (Hospitality Sales Marketing Association International) Adrian Awards recognize hospitality brands and agencies for creativity and innovation in advertising, digital, public relations/communications, and integrated campaigns. Winners are selected from a field of nearly 1,200 entries.
International Visitors Visit St. Pete/Clearwater President/CEO Brian Lowack was joined by Pinellas County Commission Chair and TDC Chair Janet C. Long, Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst, VSPC Director of Leisure Travel Rosemarie Payne, and the Rooster PR team for the 2023 World Travel Market in London last month to meet with travel and tour operators to showcase why a vacation in Paradise is…paradise! Recent stats indicate numbers are up for overseas travelers returning to the destination, with 2023’s number of travelers from the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavian market to the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater area doubling the 2022 figure.
Good Deeds The Hampton Inn & Suites Clearwater Beach and Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club were the proud recipients of the 2023 Spirit to Serve Award at the McKibbon One Leadership Conference. This award recognizes hotels with service-first spirit that are helping make the world a better place through community service efforts.
Jewel Of The Isle Congrats to Diny’s Jewelers of Florida and the beautiful Beverly Gianna Diny who celebrated 40 years in December with the Treasure Island Madeira Beach Chamber at her store. On hand were publishers Peter and Renee Roos! For all your special occasions, especially Valentine’s Day, from gems to diamonds, necklaces and rings, Diny’s helps make memories.
Community News Treasure Island City Manager Amy Davis will be the new assistant to Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton. Four St. Pete Beach City Commisioners submitted resignations effective 12/31/23 due to intrusive new Florida State reporting requirements. Treasure Island voted to repair the Kingfish Park pier and seawall at the eastern tip of Treasure Island side of John’s Pass in November. Local small businesses CR World and Alloria Blow Dry Bar were awarded $20,000 and $10,000 respectively, at AMPLIFY Clearwater’s Tourism Innovation Business Incubator’s first ‘Pitch Night’ in Dec.
Play Ball ESPN has released the full schedule for the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational Presented by EvoShield, which returns to the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater for the fifth time this February. The four-day invitational will play host to 16 of the top teams in the country, with a total of 40 softball games across ESPN platforms providing incredible international coverage of our destination and bringing a premiere amateur sporting event to our community.
Emergency Prep Residents can save money on ambulance service by enrolling in the Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance membership program. Membership covers 100% of expenses associated with deductibles and co-payments. Membership covers 50% of medically necessary trips denied by insurance. The estimated average cost of a single ambulance transport is $943. Annual membership fees for the Sunstar FirstCare Ambulance Membership plan are $86 for a Single Membership and $129 for a Family Membership. Uninsured members receive a 20% discount on medically necessary ambulance transportation. www.pinellas.gov/firstcare
Good Deeds The 12th Annual Robbies Pancake Breakfast was a huge success with 400+ friends and neighbors enjoying flapjacks, hosted by Middle Grounds Grill and Gulf Beaches Rotary. Pictured below is the Admiral Farragut Interact Rotary Club who helped bus tables and assist guests. Lake Seminole Rotary Club collected thousands of dollars worth of Christmas toys for our children in foster care. All profits from the breakfast go back into the community to the needy children and families.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce presented Director of Marketing & Communications Lisa Emory, and Chief Philanthropy Officer Phillip Deal of PARC Center for Disabilities, with a check for $5,000. The donation was thanks to the public’s participation in the 2023 Taste of the Beaches event. The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is extremely grateful to the community for rallying around this cause and supporting our wonderful local non-profits like PARC.
TPA News Air ambulance service Jet ICU broke ground on a new $10.5 million headquarters at Tampa International Airport in December, to be completed by end of 2024. The 32,500-square-foot complex at 5321 Airport Service Road will include a state-of-the-art communications center, a two-story atrium complementing the office space, and a 17,500-square-foot hangar to accommodate 10 air ambulance aircraft. The project will serve as a central hub for Jet ICU’s medical evacuation operations, helping the company better serve the Tampa Bay community and transport patients globally. The company has transported over 10,000 patients worldwide during more than 20 years in operation.
Protect St. Pete Beach The Dec. 5th Commission Meeting ended with no decision on whether or not the conditional use permit would be granted approval. After eight hours of hearing testimony and asking questions of the Sirata developers, the Commission voted to continue the hearing on Jan. 10th at 4pm. The agenda should begin with public comment followed by more discussion, which could lead to a vote. Trade Winds’ conditional use permit to expand completed the technical review process at the 12/18 Planning Board, and for now, the City Commission meets 1/23 to determine if TW’s request meets all review criteria and should be approved.