On a recent Friday afternoon at the Bilmar Beach Resort, guests milled around the lobby and sipped drinks by the pool as the gentle Gulf sparkled in the distance.
- In other words, it felt utterly, totally normal.
Why it matters: That’s no small thing for the 1960s-era Treasure Island landmark — and for a beach community that’s still in recovery a year after back-to-back hurricanes.
- “I’ll tell you what: This is back to normalcy,” Treasure Island Mayor John Doctor said at a celebration of the Bilmar’s last phase of reopening.
👋 Kathryn here. I attended the celebration at the invitation of general manager Clyde Smith, who is also an Axios Tampa Bay reader and member.
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- Smith responded to my recent dispatch after a long walk on the beaches a year after Hurricane Helene, saying that he wished the story had included more success stories, like the Bilmar’s.
- After hearing all Smith and…