Long Live the Swigwam!
Buzz on the beach is that PCI is swallowing the Swigwam, razing the place to make way for some sterilized, dime-a-dozen beach bar. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we’re giving the bar several long-overdue upgrades. PCI designer Tara Oxley will swap the carpeted underside of the bar for a corrugated galvanized steel surface, which is, if we do say so, pretty cool-looking and quite a bit more durable than the carpet. The top of the bar is also getting replaced, to Paperstone, an eco-friendly material. These are much needed tweaks: that Swigwam bar top is two Bud bottles shy of collapsing! Around the room, we’re adding 6 32″ TVs and new ceiling fans. The license plates are staying right where they are; and the dollar bills are being preserved in a frame and will be transported to the PCI lobby — an homage to Swigwam, if you will.
More importantly, as for the booze program it too is getting some love. Now, in addition to Bud Light on draft and Heineken and Cornona in the can, you’ll be able to get Cold Ass Beer, brewed especially for Wildwood, and Red Stripe, a beer that goes with sun and sand as good as any our beverage director Laura Maniec knows. Here’s more: we’re swapping out the generic brand tequila in the flavored margaritas for Milagro Resposado (100% agave) and Pina Coladas will now be made with Bacardi. (Your hangover will thank you.) We’re also introducing Frozen Tampa Tea, which is our own concoction of Bourbon, Peaches Tea and Lemon. And, for the wine drinkers in the crowd, we hope you don’t mind that we’re going to switch from Dixie cups to plastic stemless govino glasses. Oh, and lest you think we’re jacking prices, beer will set you back $3, frozen drinks $6.
Not buying it? Skeptics, you are cordially invited to come check out the new bar after October 15, 2009.
We could care less about the “improvements”; you are changing the name of a bar that has been around for over 20 years. You fired all the bartenders and then made them re-interview for their own jobs.
No amount of “spin” will fix that, something that the designers seem to have forgotten.
Does the bar need fixing? Oh yes and then some. Does it need the name change and the terminations of bartenders who most have been around for a decade? Nope.
Just in case you nice folks don’t want to publish this, it will also be posted on the Swigwam website.
BTW, the picture you are using is copyrighted, please take it down before I file a DCMA complaint.
I think it will be a good change as long as the over all look and feel is kept. I look forward to spending some winter evenings watching the sunset in the best place around. TD
Please at least leave the sign on the roof! As a 15 year plus regular virtually every weekend, I understand that things change with time, but you have to leave the sign on the roof as homage to what this place is. This Swigwam is known all across the nation (seriously)and both changing the name and removing the Swigwam sign will hurt business. As a local I will give the place a chance and try and be positive, but some things need to left intact! Don’t make us stop going, we are your bread and butter, especially from the end of May til December.
Please at least leave the sign on the roof! As a 15 year plus regular virtually every weekend, I understand that things change with time, but you have to leave the sign as homage to what this place is. This Swigwam is known all across the nation (seriously)and removing the Swigwam sign will hurt business. As a local I will give the place a chance and try and be positive, but some things need to left intact! Don’t make us stop going, we are your bread and butter, especially from the end of May til December.
For the record, I’m happy to see the old motel go, BUT…
One of the concerns re: the renovation was the fear that yet another symbol of Old Florida would disappear. This isn’t only about the Swigwam – it’s also about the systematic dismantling of our history and lifestyles in the name of “progress”.
Most other times when “progress” arrives it’s in the form of yet another new condo, but the end result is always the same. Something else goes missing. Another aspect of what we’ve enjoyed as “Florida Living” is gone.
I’m glad PCI is keeping the Swigwam, but the name change is really ill-advised. Everyone I’ve told about the new name has been mortified.
The Swigwam is a special place to many people, including the hundreds of local musicians who’ve played there over the years.
We’ve also held popular blues jams at the Swigwam for years, with the recorded songs posted on my website at BluEarthArts.com for the musicians to download for their friends and family.
I have a photo of the Swigwam from 1986 on the site. As far as I know, the jams are history, too. Unless the music returns, I’ll probably never go back again.
Jeff, I don’t see anything about changing the name of the Swigwam. The hotel has changed names a f ew times over the years. I have been a regular since 1984. Glad my Orange County tag from my 1975 VW Camper is still there with the stickers from 85,86, 87 and 88 attached for the 4 years I was at Eckerd College.
Did you see the 1986 photo of the Swigwam on my website? It’s on the blues jam page. Shows the old hamburger grill “room”, and there are no trees.
I had an old blue California plate with “A DRUMMR” on it that I was planning to put up, but when Shell’s closed I decided to hold off on that idea.
I’m glad they didn’t take down your plate or anyone else’s.
I see they changed the name again, to PCI Beach Bar. There must be a dozen bar/restaurants in Pinellas named Bill’s Something or Other, so PCI Beach Bar IS an improvement over their first choice.
I just cannot imagine changing the name of the Swigwam, I live in Tampa & enjoy going over for a day of sun & fun, hanging out with Rob & Patti at the Swigwam & spending the night. I hope the new place has the same atmosphere.
Of course there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.
Nothing endures but change.
Hotel is wonderful, but unless the locals return, the swig/pci beach bar won’t be the same….the key to continued success was easy-keep the bartenders and music and people will come…..it was like going “home”….it makes me sad that Rob is gone…..to me, he was “The Swigwam”