madcoco
<font color=green>Learns something new here everyd
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2000
This was in the FL Today. Great to see considering what damage after Francis and Jeanne came through in '04. Too many popups so reprinting for easy viewing.
Capt Hiram's shaping up
Owners hope overhaul will bring in locals
BY DONNA BALANCIA
A room with a view. Early lunch diners begin to arrive at the riverfront Capt Hiram's restaurant. Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY
Upgrades at Capt Hiram's
As the trend in tourism grows increasingly toward catering to local vacationers, the owners of Capt Hiram's Resort have big expansion plans in the works for their destination.
"We really have expanded Capt Hiram's into a one-stop entertainment destination," said Tim Michaud, resort manager and chief operating officer for Capt Hiram's and the newly named The Inn at Capt Hiram's in Sebastian.
The 70-room hotel that used to be called the Key West Inn will be undergoing a major upgrade that will cost about $500,000. Michaud said all the work on the hotel should be done by the end of 2007.
"The owners want to capitalize on the Capt Hiram's name. It isn't just a restaurant," Michaud said. "We're growing the hotel into more of a boutique brand, but we're going to keep the casual atmosphere, that Key West theme."
Michaud is no stranger to change. He was general manager of The Holiday Inn Oceanfront near Indialantic, and had overseen the massive reconstruction effort to rebuild after the hurricanes of 2004. Soon after the hotel changed flags to Crowne Plaza, Michaud accepted the position at Capt Hiram's.
The Sebastian hotel had been owned as a franchise of the Key West Inns Inc. banner. But Capt Hiram's owners, Tom Collins and Martin Carter, decided to put the hotel and the restaurant both under the Capt Hiram's name -- minus the period after "Capt" in the name to provide a "cleaner look" for the signs and logo, Michaud said.
"The customers were confused that the hotel was a
different name from the restaurant," Michaud said. "So the owners wanted to put the two pieces of the destination together under one name. The name, Capt Hiram's, is very well-known, so they wanted to capitalize on that."
Under the new refurbishment, each of the 70 rooms will get new fixtures and furniture, the interior will be painted, and other additions will be added varying from room to room. Of the 70 rooms, 18 have a river view.
"The trend in tourism has been to capture that drive market," Michaud said. "We get people from as far away as Fort Pierce, but we're really popular with people from Vero Beach and Melbourne, too."
In the 20 years that Collins and Martin have been working to develop Capt Hiram's, more and more emphasis has been put on customers enjoying a full experience on the property.
Michaud said a major piece of the new Capt Hiram's destination is to showcase at least six national acts for the concert venue at the SandBar each year.
Jan Taylor, the public relations and entertainment director, has been booking bands that are nationally known.
"No cover bands," Michaud said. "We're getting in acts that people will drive to see."
Capt Hiram's is a substantial employer in the Sebastian area, with 220 employees.
Michaud said the bulk of those people work in the restaurant, and, at any given time, 40 waiters and waitresses could be on a shift.
Waiters and waitresses work at the Capt Hiram's restaurant, as well as the SandBar, so-named for its indoor-outdoor, right-on-the-beach appeal.
"We have a lot of employees, but between the restaurant and the SandBar, we get pretty crowded, especially on the weekends," Michaud said. "We're very big on customer service, and the owners feel very strongly about people coming away having enjoyed the experience."
The complex also has two other bars -- the hotel's main bar and Coral Bar.
"We are a vacation destination that's a half an hour away" or less from most of Brevard and Indian River counties, "and once you get here, there's so much, that you never have to leave," he said.
Capt Hiram's shaping up
Owners hope overhaul will bring in locals
BY DONNA BALANCIA
A room with a view. Early lunch diners begin to arrive at the riverfront Capt Hiram's restaurant. Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY
Upgrades at Capt Hiram's
As the trend in tourism grows increasingly toward catering to local vacationers, the owners of Capt Hiram's Resort have big expansion plans in the works for their destination.
"We really have expanded Capt Hiram's into a one-stop entertainment destination," said Tim Michaud, resort manager and chief operating officer for Capt Hiram's and the newly named The Inn at Capt Hiram's in Sebastian.
The 70-room hotel that used to be called the Key West Inn will be undergoing a major upgrade that will cost about $500,000. Michaud said all the work on the hotel should be done by the end of 2007.
"The owners want to capitalize on the Capt Hiram's name. It isn't just a restaurant," Michaud said. "We're growing the hotel into more of a boutique brand, but we're going to keep the casual atmosphere, that Key West theme."
Michaud is no stranger to change. He was general manager of The Holiday Inn Oceanfront near Indialantic, and had overseen the massive reconstruction effort to rebuild after the hurricanes of 2004. Soon after the hotel changed flags to Crowne Plaza, Michaud accepted the position at Capt Hiram's.
The Sebastian hotel had been owned as a franchise of the Key West Inns Inc. banner. But Capt Hiram's owners, Tom Collins and Martin Carter, decided to put the hotel and the restaurant both under the Capt Hiram's name -- minus the period after "Capt" in the name to provide a "cleaner look" for the signs and logo, Michaud said.
"The customers were confused that the hotel was a
different name from the restaurant," Michaud said. "So the owners wanted to put the two pieces of the destination together under one name. The name, Capt Hiram's, is very well-known, so they wanted to capitalize on that."
Under the new refurbishment, each of the 70 rooms will get new fixtures and furniture, the interior will be painted, and other additions will be added varying from room to room. Of the 70 rooms, 18 have a river view.
"The trend in tourism has been to capture that drive market," Michaud said. "We get people from as far away as Fort Pierce, but we're really popular with people from Vero Beach and Melbourne, too."
In the 20 years that Collins and Martin have been working to develop Capt Hiram's, more and more emphasis has been put on customers enjoying a full experience on the property.
Michaud said a major piece of the new Capt Hiram's destination is to showcase at least six national acts for the concert venue at the SandBar each year.
Jan Taylor, the public relations and entertainment director, has been booking bands that are nationally known.
"No cover bands," Michaud said. "We're getting in acts that people will drive to see."
Capt Hiram's is a substantial employer in the Sebastian area, with 220 employees.
Michaud said the bulk of those people work in the restaurant, and, at any given time, 40 waiters and waitresses could be on a shift.
Waiters and waitresses work at the Capt Hiram's restaurant, as well as the SandBar, so-named for its indoor-outdoor, right-on-the-beach appeal.
"We have a lot of employees, but between the restaurant and the SandBar, we get pretty crowded, especially on the weekends," Michaud said. "We're very big on customer service, and the owners feel very strongly about people coming away having enjoyed the experience."
The complex also has two other bars -- the hotel's main bar and Coral Bar.
"We are a vacation destination that's a half an hour away" or less from most of Brevard and Indian River counties, "and once you get here, there's so much, that you never have to leave," he said.
fond memories 
It gets a bad rap. The nightlife is out there you just have to search for it. Nighttime Shuffleboard and Bocce Ball Tournaments come to mind. But be warned. Some serious gambling and Sambuca downing goes on.
