The Renaissance Vinoy Resort

A Conversation with Russell C. Bond, General Manager by Susie McKinley

The Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club is a beautiful hotel located on St. Petersburg’s “downtown waterfront.”

How long has this historic property been open?
The Vinoy Park Hotel originally opened in 1925, continued through 1974 and was then closed for 18 years.  It was saved by the voters of St. Pete from the wrecking ball in the 80’s.  In 1992, the Stouffer Vinoy Resort (now Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club) opened after a $95M total renovation and restoration.  We are now celebrating 20 years.

Do you know what the vision of the original owners was?
As the story goes, the birth of the Vinoy was the result of a friendly bet one evening in 1923.  Three gentlemen -the professional golfer, Walter Hagen; Gene Elliott, a builder and Aymer Vinoy Laughner, were enjoying cocktails at the Laughner home just across the street from what is now the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club.  Mr. Elliott and Mr. Laughner bet Walter Hagen that he couldn’t hit a golf ball off the face of a pocket watch without breaking the crystal.  He was successful several times.  That night they determined that the area across from the Laughner home should be the location for a world-class resort.  Eleven months later (amazing by any standard), the Vinoy Park Hotel opened.

Can you explain to readers what your History Gallery is?
About 6 years ago, we convinced our owners to invest in and improve the presentation of our long history.  We are on the National Registry of Historical Places and Arts, culture and history are all important for the success of the Vinoy and Downtown St. Petersburg.  We have always done and continue to offer History Tours to resort guests and locals every Wednesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  Our historian, Elaine Normile, and several other docents conduct the very popular tours.  Our History Gallery includes a time line from 1900 to the present; several versions of Vinoy china from over the years; post cards from our earlier years, details of the original construction and numerous photos.

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Bud & Alley's

Can you tell FR&L Readers the History of Bud and Alley’s?
In the fall of 1985 I was 24 years old and I happened to be working as a server at a French Restaurant in Destin called Les Saisons. The Future developer of Seaside, Robert Davis used to eat there. I had become close friends with the Maître d, Scott Witcoski through work and our mutual love of surfing. Robert had inquired with Scott about an opportunity to open a restaurant in an existing restaurant in Seaside (the previous tenants left at the end of the previous season).

Scott and I were headed to Panama City for a day of surfing when Scott mentioned he would like to stop and look at the building Robert had told him about. Because the surf was so good I did not want to stop. The thought never occurred to me Scott would be asking me to be his future partner in an hour. Scott was driving and he talked me into stopping anyway.

Robert shared his vision of Seaside with us and gave us a tour of the restaurant (basically a turn key operation with the tables set and everything ready to go). After Robert left us, Scott and I had a few moments to look out over the Gulf through the back porch window and he asked me if I wanted to open a restaurant with him. It was such a beautiful place and being so impressed Robert’s vision for his future town gave me little pause. Twenty-four hours later I quit college (already enrolled in my last semester) and tossed my bachelors degree in business management and marketing to the side to open a restaurant with Scott. We named it Bud & Alley’s after Robert’s dog, “Bud” and Scott’s cat “Alley.” We wanted to create a restaurant that had great food that was unpretentious and fun. Our motto still is and was from the start: Good Food, Good People & Good Times.

Scott was the founding chef and president, and I ran the front of the house in the VP position of our newly formed corporation. We were great friends and business partners for 20 years as Bud & Alley’s grew and matured along with Seaside. We kept our overhead low and grew in very small steps. Because we were so young we had few financial needs and it did not matter to us that we were not making a lot of money in the early years. We were just happy owning our own business and playing an active role in the town making of Seaside. We closed the restaurant on Tuesdays so we could do laundry and have a day off, and we closed for the month of January so we could take a surf trip every year. We called it our winter “board” meeting. If the waves came up, we would surf before work and between shifts behind the restaurant.

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The Riverside Hotel

A Luxurious and Laidback Mix of Caribbean Style and Old Florida Charm

In September 2011, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Editor, Susie McKinley, sat down with the management of the elegant Riverside Hotel to learn their “Secrets to Success”. The Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale is a landmark on beautiful Las Olas Boulevard. 

How long has The Riverside been open?
The historic Riverside Hotel, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, is located in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, as the only hotel on the city’s prestigious Las Olas Boulevard. Opened in 1936 by the Wells family, who also developed the Boulevard, the Riverside Hotel is both luxurious and laidback, mixing Caribbean style with old Florida charm.

Please describe the Hotel:
The 12-story property features 214 guestrooms inclusive of 6 suites accentuated by Tommy Bahama®-styled design elements, vintage décor, as well as the most discriminating detail - sweeping views overlooking the city skyline, Atlantic Ocean and New River.

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Rusty's Seafood and Oyster Bar

By Susie McKinley

FRLA staff sat down with Rhett Fischer, a fourth generation restaurateur, of Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and spoke with him recently about his family’s business.

Mr. Fischer, please tell F R & L’s readers about the history of Rusty’s Seafood.
It began on October 31, 1948 when Bernard Fischer opened one of the first restaurants in Cocoa Beach.... Bernard’s Surf. Bernard was a member of the Fischer family, which owned and operated a fleet in Port Canaveral when it was nothing more than a small fishing village.  From the very beginning to their continued success more than 60 years later, the Fischer family has not only served their community, but has hosted astronauts, movie stars and celebrity journalists.

When Bernard Fischer passed away in 1965 the family asked Rusty to take over the restaurant. Though he was in college at Florida State University, he knew the family needed him to work in the business, so he went home. By 1988, he had opened the first Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, which became an instant success and in 1992, they opened Rusty’s at the Port. Today, Rusty (my dad) and I continue the family tradition in Port Canaveral where it all began. The future of Port Canaveral is exciting and the Fischer Family looks forward to serving their community and the world for another 60 years!

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Park Plaza Hotel

Angela Robbins photo, True Moxie StudiosThe Park Plaza Hotel opened in downtown Winter Park 35 years ago and has been a member of FRLA since 2006. In this installment of Secrets of Success, Mindy Spang Livingston, Director of Business Development, tells us about this charming Park Avenue property.

How long have you been in business?
The hotel opened in 1923 as the Hamilton Hotel.  Originally, the hotel had fifty rooms.  In 1976, it was purchased by the John Spang family, remodeled and reconfigured into twenty-eight rooms of different sizes.

How did Park Plaza get its start -- what was your vision and / or motivation?
We wanted to provide service, charm and a “home away from home” to business travelers and visitors to Winter Park.

What makes your hotel unique?
It has the ambiance of a vintage hotel in the European style.  Located in the center of Winter Park close to shopping and restaurants, it is the only hotel on Park Avenue.

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