Something is different this season

**AAbsolute** · 03-20-2009, 07:37 AM

I think something is different this year. There is more seasonal traffic on 30A than the last two years. I sense a collective optimism.

**Bob** · 03-20-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

I think something is different this year. There is more seasonal traffic on 30A then the last two years. I sense a collective optimism.

i sure hope so for all the folks in walton county....we need everyone to talk about the opportunities that lie ahead

**ray** · 03-20-2009, 09:55 AM

I agree. done there the first week in march the traffice on 30a was very thick and crowds on 30-a were big

**Franny** · 03-20-2009, 10:05 AM

I totally agree. Appears to be a lot more college kids than the norm.

**Miss Critter** · 03-20-2009, 10:48 AM

I'd be interested in hearing from businesses as to tourist spending so far.

**TooFarTampa** · 03-20-2009, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by MissCritter

I'd be interested in hearing from businesses as to tourist spending so far.

Me too. It is interesting to me to see all the creative thinking going on. ie how can I serve the customer and still profit? What is this year's customer looking for?

It's my belief that any retail or restaurant business that survives this recession is going to be very formidable on the other end of it. The simple reason is that the times demand that people be very good at what they do, and be truly in touch with what the customer wants. Sadly even some of the good ones won't make it.

**rehunter** · 03-20-2009, 12:39 PM

Yes, tourist spending would be interesting. An uptick possibily from families foregoing the ski vacate or air travel vacate during these times. 30A has historically served the SE and 2 tanks of gas for a family of 5 is much cheaper than 5 plane tickets. Are they going to spend anything after getting there.... I imagine that the area publix down there will have record seasons with more people opting to dine in than out, and more opting to RR on the free beach vs. being entertained by the various pay activities. Hey "hope SPRINGS eternal" right

**Rather B Paddlin** · 03-20-2009, 12:48 PM

Amazingly, bookings for spring break and the summer have been steady and brisk. This year should end up being the same as the last several years.
Go figure

**30A Skunkape** · 03-20-2009, 01:00 PM

Basmati's was more crowded last night than I have ever seen it!
Patrons were parking on 30-A as the parking lot was full. We were lucky to snare a small table on the porch. Reservations are now a given when we go out. I also noticed JC's was packed.
I am so happy for our restauranteurs

**rehunter** · 03-20-2009, 01:01 PM

Very Cool, ratherbepaddlin... You must be one of the "good ones" toofartampa speaks of.

**AAbsolute** · 03-20-2009, 07:24 PM

I'm hearing Watercolor and WaterSound will be 100% booked for Easter, but I was more surprised about what Seaside has been looking like.

**Dominoes** · 03-20-2009, 07:54 PM

Not necessarily true for Phase 2 and 3 in Watercolor OR Watersound. I know folks who have unoccupied places in both listed for rental.

**Dominoes** · 03-20-2009, 07:56 PM

But bookings have been comparable to last year, just occurring at the last minute (people looking for deals, but not getting them).

**DuneLaker** · 03-20-2009, 08:00 PM

Traffic is very heavy on 30A. Traveling by all the restaurants look like they have full parking lots. We ate at Fish Out of Water this week at WaterColor and it was full. Interesting, lots of kids eating first class meals. George's at Alys Beach for lunch today was also totally packed.

**AAbsolute** · 03-20-2009, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Dominoes

Not necessarily true for Phase 2 and 3 in Watercolor OR Watersound. I know folks who have unoccupied places in both listed for rental.

Do you know if your friends' places are on the JOE in house rental program?

**AAbsolute** · 03-20-2009, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by rehunter

Yes, tourist spending would be interesting. An uptick possibily from families foregoing the ski vacate or air travel vacate during these times. 30A has historically served the SE and 2 tanks of gas for a family of 5 is much cheaper than 5 plane tickets. Are they going to spend anything after getting there.... I imagine that the area publix down there will have record seasons with more people opting to dine in than out, and more opting to RR on the free beach vs. being entertained by the various pay activities. Hey "hope SPRINGS eternal" right

I understand that 395's Publix is already the most profitable Publix in the State.

**Beach Runner** · 03-20-2009, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dominoes

But bookings have been comparable to last year, just occurring at the last minute (people looking for deals, but not getting them).

That's what I have discovered as well regarding spring.

I have people begging for OUR time in June. I sowwy.

**Bobby J** · 03-20-2009, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

I think something is different this year. There is more seasonal traffic on 30A than the last two years. I sense a collective optimism.

Don't let the media know about this....

**beachmouse** · 03-20-2009, 11:23 PM

Sister's theory is that a number of the kids and families who would usually go to Cancun or other parts of Mexico for vacation have decided to stay in the US because of the reports of increased crime in the country.

**Suma** · 03-21-2009, 07:03 AM

That's what I hear, Beachmouse. I certainly wouldn't let my college-aged children go to Mexico for spring break, although my son did a few years ago.

**AAbsolute** · 03-21-2009, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby J

Don't let the media know about this....

Watch, when the broader economy has turned up the media will be just as irrationally exhuberant about the turn-around as they were about the down-turn.

I remember a morning in 1993 like it was yesterday morning. I was watching Mark Haines on Squawk Box and he reported the winners vs losers from the day before. The greens outnumbered the reds by about 60 to 1 and he said, "when's the last time you saw that?" From my perspective that was the beginning of a long cycle that was predominantly up.

This Thread was intended as more of a micro view. There is something very positive happening right now on 30A.

**ray** · 03-21-2009, 07:47 AM

No question 30-a is very busy. But unfortunately i believe the economy at best is in for a decade long period of stagnation much like japans lost decade.Cnbc will always hype any small upturn as the start of a new bull mkt. The debt overhang of the gov'ts $10 trillion of spending will be a drag on the economy for a long time. But 30-a is 30-a and will always do well.

**scooterbug44** · 03-21-2009, 12:57 PM

I think it's a combination of many things - crime in Mexico, the costs of air travel vs. loading up the car and filling it w/ $2 gas, a reality check as to what is important, people needing a break, the slow economy making people more likely to take a vacation, the slight recovery in the market etc.

Don't think I would refer to it as optimism, but it sure is nice to see so many people here!

**robertsondavies** · 03-21-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by ray

But 30-a is 30-a and will always do well.

Yes. Correct. So who is trying to screw with the golden goose and put taco bells on 98 in South Walton? ??????? and signs all over the g-dam place along 30-a

**scooterbug44** · 03-21-2009, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by robertsondavies

Yes. Correct. So who is trying to screw with the golden goose and put taco bells on 98 in South Walton? ??????? and signs all over the g-dam place along 30-a

And the folks who are causing problems for any venue w/ live music and any restaurant/bar that tries to reopen!

**beachmouse** · 03-21-2009, 07:07 PM

My sister was talking with some management company folks and they said there seem to be more Walton & Okaloosa condo owners who are willng to rent to the under 25 set (ie. college students) this year in order to guarantee more spring income coming in than in years past. And the Miramar Beach area near Whale's Tail has been slammed with the college crowd.

**Miss Critter** · 03-21-2009, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by beachmouse

And the Miramar Beach area near Whale's Tail has been slammed with the college crowd.

Looked like an MTV production there this afternoon.

**Sandcastle** · 03-21-2009, 08:22 PM

There's quite a bit of new construction in our neighborhood. That's encouraging.

**30ashopper** · 03-22-2009, 10:50 AM

Indeed, affordable destinations are among the bright spots in the industry: It costs just $77 for an adult season pass to the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which opens this weekend, and spokesman Pete Owens says season-ticket sales are up about 7% so far from last year. "Families are forgoing the cruise or the European travel and trying to stay a little closer to home, budgeting more," he said.

Travel Spending Sinks Sharply - WSJ.com

Overall tourism related industries are getting hammered. Destin though may not get hit as bad as some due to its location and cost. Restaurants that stay afloat are likely benefiting from all the closures, and people who made sound real-estate decisions will likely benefit from the lack of property on the rental market due to foreclosure. Capitalism at work folks.

**AAbsolute** · 03-22-2009, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by 30ashopper

Travel Spending Sinks Sharply - WSJ.com

Overall tourism related industries are getting hammered. Destin though may not get hit as bad as some due to its location and cost. Restaurants that stay afloat are likely benefiting from all the closures, and people who made sound real-estate decisions will likely benefit from the lack of property on the rental market due to foreclosure. Capitalism at work folks.

Sounds well thought out. I imagine that when you say Destin you are talking about SoWal as well.? I've talked to many visitors who refer to 30A as Destin. In fact, when I first visited Sandestin in '95 Russell Walters (previously with Sandestin in house real estate) told me Sandestin was in Destin.

**30ashopper** · 03-22-2009, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

Sounds well thought out. I imagine that when you say Destin you are talking about SoWal as well.? I've talked to many visitors who refer to 30A as Destin. In fact, when I first visited Sandestin in '95 Russell Walters (previously with Sandestin in house real estate) told me Sandestin was in Destin.

Yeah the area in general. I wonder how Russell is doing these days, I think he pulled his sign down on 98 outside SD. I haven't noticed it in a while.

**traderx** · 03-22-2009, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by 30ashopper

Yeah the area in general. I wonder how Russell is doing these days, I think he pulled his sign down on 98 outside SD. I haven't noticed it in a while.

I guess everybody knows Russell. I almost bought a Sandestin property thru him ten years ago. It was a great property and really was a great time to buy.

**ItzKatzTime** · 03-22-2009, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

And the folks who are causing problems for any venue w/ live music and any restaurant/bar that tries to reopen!

Thank you scooterbug!

**AAbsolute** · 03-22-2009, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by traderx

I guess everybody knows Russell. I almost bought a Sandestin property thru him ten years ago. It was a great property and really was a great time to buy.

I had a contract to purchase a bayfront lot in Driftwood on my desk for a month back in '95 or '96. At that time Sandestin Real Estate was saying Driftwood was going to be a part of Sandestin with a golf course in the middle infill area. I would have signed the contract, but couldn't get anything in writing from Russell and Sandestin saying it was annexed in.

Even SHELLY would say in hindsight that it really was a good time to buy.

This will be a good season.

**robertsondavies** · 03-22-2009, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by AAbsolute

I had a contract to purchase a bayfront lot in Driftwood on my desk for a month back in '95 or '96. At that time Sandestin Real Estate was saying Driftwood was going to be a part of Sandestin with a golf course in the middle infill area. I would have signed the contract, but couldn't get anything in writing from Russell and Sandestin saying it was annexed in.

Even SHELLY would say in hindsight that it really was a good time to buy.

This will be a good season.

I have to agree with this last comment. Given that South Walton real estate, peaked 12 months before South Florida real estate, and 18 months before California, NY and National average real estate, that So Wal should be a couple quarters ahead of the curve coming out the other side.... and I think that time is this year.

**TheSheep** · 03-30-2009, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by robertsondavies

I have to agree with this last comment. Given that South Walton real estate, peaked 12 months before South Florida real estate, and 18 months before California, NY and National average real estate, that So Wal should be a couple quarters ahead of the curve coming out the other side.... and I think that time is this year.

Toke, toke, toke that number..........