The purchase of the Best Western Plus Sebastian Hotel and Suites by Capt. Hiram’s is the most recent in a long history of expansions and improvements the Hiram’s owners have made since opening their doors in 1986.
The growth of the popular resort complex coincides with that of Sebastian itself, and Will Collins – son of Tom Collins, owner and one of the founders of the resort – last week talked about the newest acquisition and about growing up in Sebastian and in the family business.
It’s only 8 a.m. and already Collins is at a booth in the restaurant’s main dining area, where breakfast is being served. A paper coffee cup sits within hand’s reach and a grid-sheet notebook lies open on the table before him. He’s planning a typical full day. “If I don’t do this before 10,” he says, “the day just gets too busy.”
It is the Friday before the big Memorial Day weekend, and Collins’ notebook is filling up fast. As his purchaser, Laurie Richter, hurries by the booth, Collins calls out, “Did you order enough fries?”
“Yep. 30 cases,” she replies.
“This weekend’s gonna be big,” he says, making another notation.
Collins has recently taken over the day-to-day running of the operation from his dad, who has moved into a less hands-on, more advisory position. The younger Collins’ title is President and DOGT (Director of Good Times).
With the purchase of the Best Western Plus, on U.S. 1 just two blocks north of Capt. Hiram’s Resort, Collins adds another facet to his job; he and his team will manage the property – 56 rooms and suites, which will retain its Best Western franchise – and its staff.
It is undergoing a spiffing up, to provide a kick-start as the newest member of the Hiram’s family, and guests will now enjoy the many amenities and live entertainment available at the Capt. Hiram’s Resorts. Collins is looking at providing guest transportation from the new acquisition down to Capt. Hiram’s. “We have a huge demand for accommodations on weekends and the addition of the new rooms will greatly enhance our wedding, events and catering business.”
Collins shared some family and business history. Tom Collins and Martin Carter grew up together on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Collins became a developer and moved to Sebastian in the 70s. Carter came south as well and the lifelong friends, who’d had intentions of running a restaurant, began to get serious about it, envisioning an Eastern Shore style raw bar with steamed clams and oysters on the half shell.
When, in 1986, property extending from US 1 to the lagoon became available, the partners took the plunge and bought the property. All that was there then was a little boat storage building on the west side of Indian River Drive, and a dock in the lagoon on the east. Partnering with another friend, Jimmy Hoffman, they embarked on creating Capt. Hiram’s River Raw Bar.
The restaurant was named in honor of Tom Collins’ great uncle, Hiram Collins, First Sergeant, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion, U.S. Army. He died in WWII, on D-Day, while part of the Normandy invasion at Omaha Beach.
The arrival of their new restaurant on the waterfront was not the only exciting event in the Collins family in 1986. It also heralded the arrival of baby Will, who likes to say he grew up right along with the restaurant. Among his earliest memories are helping his dad with the expanding and remodeling, building things, hauling furniture, barrels and such from one place to another, as the business grew.
For the decade or so after opening, “it sort of grew organically,” Will Collins says. The Ship’s Store was added. The Ramp Lounge was put in right where the old boat ramp had been. Pointing, he says, “They’d haul their boats right up through here.”
Then came the original Sand Bar, “just one little bar.” And the Marina rooms, four units on the south side, went up around then as well. “That set the ground work for the next phase.”
In 2000 came the opening of the 56-room hotel across the street – The Inn at Capt. Hiram’s. Then, around 2002, the Sand Bar expanded with a couple of new bar areas and a bigger stage set-up – the Grand Sand Bandstand – that could accommodate the national acts and other bands that came to perform at the place that had begun to gain wide-ranging recognition.
“That,” said Will Collins, was when Capt. Hiram’s transformed into a destination. “At that time we were very progressive, very unique. And as the Riverfront developed, it allowed our business to grow as well. The city planners have done a great job for local business, for keeping the balance – and for keeping Sebastian … Sebastian.”
And then came 2004, when Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne nailed the Treasure Coast with two direct hits. “It crippled us. It hurt us bad,” Collins says. “The roof came off the hotel, we lost the docks; there were boats in the restaurant. But it was a great testament to our staff and to the City. Everyone rallied. We’d say “You were a server, now you’re a construction worker.’“
Eventually, things began to feel normal again and, in 2006, Capt. Hiram’s opened the 16-unit Riverfront Hotel, right next door, on the river, to the north.
The water operations have grown along with the rest of the operation. There is a full-service marina, with rental slips, plenty of dock space, and three or four charter fishing captains, a river excursion boat, SeaDoo and small boat rentals all available from Hiram’s docks.
“Our docks are a destination for boaters from all over,” Collins says. “Our boat traffic drives our business.”
Around 2006 Sebastian contractor and philanthropist Mickey Capp bought Carter’s shares and joined the team. “He is very in touch with the community. He knows the pulse of Sebastian and he’s adamant about community support.”
With Capp’s community spirit sparking the team’s enthusiasm, Capt. Hiram’s supports numerous organization and causes: “We’ve done St. Baldrick’s for three years and raised $100,000; and the Duck Derby. We support the United Way throughout the year, and the cancer Walk for a Cure – we supply food for the walkers. I started the triathlon (to support the lagoon) last year,” Collins says. “I care a lot about the water. No one wants to look at dirty, polluted water. We’re only as good as the view,”
Collins is proud of the 100-plus employees who handle every aspect of the operation and, although the resort, restaurant, sandbar, hotel and marina complex is one of Sebastian’s biggest businesses, he is dedicated to keeping a team spirit among the staff. “We’re just a bunch of people doing the best we can.”
Collins works to give his staff plenty of support and recognition. A life-size cardboard cutout of “the employee of the month,” greets guests at the entrance. And there are regular special dishes and drinks, spotlighted in the menus with a picture of the employee who created them. For his staff and his customers, Collins is adamant: “In a world where there is more and more standardization, we are independent and unique. We cater to people.”
As to the future: “We’re not going anywhere. We’re right here.” Following in his dad’s footsteps, Will Collins says, “We’ll be conservative, we’ll be smart and when opportunities present themselves we’ll push to the next level. And we’ll always continue to support our community.”
