New Bay Harbor hotel owners drop Best Western flag, plan upscale renovation
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 23, 2015

The new owners of the Bay Harbor Hotel and Conference Center have dropped the Best Western flag and are planning major renovations to the property.

Chicago-based Oxford Capital Group said Thursday that it is "operating as an independent hotel with future plans to dramatically transform the well-known property into an upscale lifestyle hotel." Largo investor Ben Mallah sold the property to Oxford for $34.5 million in a deal that closed this week.

The 20,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant formerly known as Hogan's Beach is now Beach Bar | Restaurant. Beach Bar is "a new contemporary and casual concept serving fresh seafood, local ingredients and American classic dishes," according to a news release from Oxford Capital.

Oxford is also planning to build a swim-up bar in the heated pool.

Renovations after a property changes hands are standard in the hotel industry. The transformation of Bay Harbor also represents the changing face of Rocky Point, which is seeing more investors and developers interested in property there. The Chart House Restaurant, for example, is under contract to be sold, with plans to demolish it and build apartments in its place.

The bright red-and-yellow palette that defined Hogan's Beach will give way to "modern and airy nautical décor with light woods, white, tans and shades of blue." It seats 125 indoors and 280 outdoors and also will offer its full menu to boaters who dock off the 200-foot pier.

New events and promotions will be used to lure in new customers - beach volleyball tournaments throughout the winter, live Jet Ski shows, all-you-can-eat snow crab Fridays.

The menu will feature fresh seafood - including a fire-roasted Florida lobster tail, Caribbean mahi mahi and a seafood gumbo. There will also be a raw bar, seafood platters and steamers, pizza, burgers, tacos and more.

"The entire team is eager to introduce Beach Bar | Restaurant to Tampa natives,” AJ Jabbour, general manager, said in a statement. "We are all working to build upon this great location with a fun atmosphere for locals and visitors to enjoy fantastic food, wine and tropical beach cocktails.”

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.