Resilient Family Legacy: Boutique Resorts Rebuild in St. Pete Beach after Disasters
Bayview Plaza LLC of Pinellas County
Family-owned and operated since 1988, Plaza Beach Resorts, has been a St. Pete Beach treasure for decades. Today, under husband-and-wife duo Robert and Mariuche Czyszczon, the three award-winning boutique hotels continue to offer guests a unique slice of Old Florida charm along one of America’s most celebrated shorelines.
What began as a single property purchased by the owners’ parents in 1988 has grown into three distinct resorts, each with its own personality.
The Plaza Beach Hotel, located directly on the sand, exudes a chic 1960s retro vibe, complete with classic cars in the lobby and outside. The hotel also boasts a world-first penny bathroom, where every inch is covered in meticulously placed copper pennies.
Across the street, Bayview Plaza Waterfront and Bay Palms Waterfront Hotel sit along the tranquil Intracoastal Waterway. Both properties are transformed into an immersive art experience through an exclusive partnership with marine artist Steve Diossy, with vibrant murals covering the exteriors and guest rooms featuring collectible marine artwork.
The family-owned resorts sit along the award-winning shoreline consistently recognized as the number one beach destination in the Unites States of America. Thus, when the next generation of Czyszczon’s stepped in during 2000, armed with experience from luxury brands like the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott, the business continued to evolve into boutique destinations known for their personalized hospitality and loyal guests who return year after year.
Over the decades, the family has faced many challenges—from financial crises to red tide—but none as significant as Hurricane Helene and Milton.
When disaster struck, they turned to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development and business consultant Debra Schweikowsky, who helped them secure a $50,000 Florida Emergency Bridge Loan. “The Florida SBDC at Pinellas County was just instrumental in providing us all the information and help with the Florida Department of Commerce bridge loans, the SBA loans. Debra was just my cheerleader and my follow-through person. We were able to receive some funding— we’re still navigating through some of the SBA loans and providing some more information that they’ve requested but Debra is still following through with me and making sure that it’s been submitted and that we get all the funding that we need,” Mariuche said.
That support enabled them to reopen and, remarkably, house displaced local residents through FEMA’s Temporary Lodging Assistance program. “One of the biggest success stories has been housing local residents that lost their homes but now we’re finally ready to open up to our regular guests and we are welcoming them with open arms,” Mariuche said.
The husband-and-wife team expressed how appreciative they were of the support from the Florida SBDC at PCED as well as their community. “They [Florida SBDC at PCED] were so prepared they gave us so much information on how to apply for everything, how to stay on top of it, and what opportunities were out there for all the businesses that were affected by the hurricanes,” Mariuche said.
“We are just so appreciative of all the love and support we received from everybody from the community from the [Tampa Bay Beaches] Chamber of Commerce, from the [Florida] SBDC, from the government,” Mariuche added.
Through it all, the business owners have stayed committed to their guests, employees, and community.
