Pier Park’s limited opening brings in crowds
PANAMA CITY BEACH - The combination of locally owned businesses and nationally-known stores is proving to be successful for Bay County’s Pier Park.
At the grand opening on Feb. 14, several business owners said they chose Pier Park because of the projected mix of restaurants and retail shops they hope will bring in customers.
The promise of more foot traffic was enough for at least one Walton County business owner to close her Grayton Beach shop and move to Pier Park.
Cindy Stephens, owner of Fish Tales, said Pier Park needed her type of business which includes beach-themed art and jewelry.
“This is the place for my artwork to be,” she said.
In the first two hours Fish Tales was open, 500 people came through the shop.
“We were serving mimosas,” she said. “We had to send out for orange juice twice.”
Many of the 17 businesses which opened Thursday provided free samples, plus the opportunity to register for door prizes. From the lines outside stores before they opened, it was the perfect hook to bring in customers.
Irene Phillips, owner of Unique Boutique by Irene Co., encouraged shoppers to check out her shop and take a chance to win merchandise.
She carries the Vera Bradley line, Brighton handbags and jewelry, Michael Stars, Cape Madras and Nic + Zoe.
“Most of the brands are not carried anywhere around here,” she said.
Irene and her husband, Ron Phillips, have another shop, Irene & Co. and Shoppes of Edgewater.
Phillips became familiar with Simon Property Group - the developer of Pier Park - when she lived in Atlanta, Ga., where Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza are part of Simon’s retail portfolio.
Because of her positive perception of Simon’s Atlanta properties, Phillips decided to open a second business in Panama City Beach.
“This is going to be a great project,” she said.
The couple believes the relocation of the airport to the Walton/Bay County line, will benefit both businesses.
Gary Nims, owner and manager of Quiznos Sub, has waited nearly four years for the opening of Pier Park.
“We signed a letter of intent (with Simon) several years ago,” he said.
Nims, a South Walton resident, has a second location at the Panama City Mall.
He watched the project as it developed and said he was glad to be open even though there will be competition for customers.
Nims seemed prepared for Thursday’s crowds. He pulled employees from his Panama City store and said he would juggle the staff as needed, especially during Spring Break.
“We have a lot of spring breakers that stay in hotels in Panama City and stop at Quiznos there before heading to Panama City Beach,” he said. “If the crowds come here, we will bring employees here.”
His shop is along the popular boardwalk that will feature Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and The Back Porch.
Those restaurants will open in March.
Although it was a chilly start on Valentine’s Day, the limited grand opening “brought out more than a 1,000 shoppers,” Simon Property Group spokesman Les Morris said.
Morris said new stores will be opening throughout February and March.
The anchor stores, Dillard’s, JC Penney and Old Navy are set to open in March.