New Hilton hotel on tap for Pompano
Beachside overhaul aims to hook tourists
Pompano Beach is looking forward to a new Hilton hotel opening by the beach.
It’ll be the first hotel to break ground in 52 years in an area chosen for redevelopment, helping fulfill a plan to overhaul the beachside corridor into a world-class tourist destination.
The hotel will replace a city parking lot at 3410 Pier St., next to the city’s new parking garage. It’s expected to be five 150 rooms.
“It’s been talked about for years and years,” said Mayor Lamar Fisher. “A major piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.”
Tim Hernandez is a developer Pompano hired to turn the cityowned land into property subleased to shops, restaurants, and a hotel. Hernandez said he is thrilled that Hilton has recently committed to opening in Pompano.
He said his goal has been to convince the right names to invest in the new attractions.
“No offense to Motel 6, but that’s not what we wanted here,” said Hernandez, one of the principals in the company called Pompano Pier Associates, stories tall and have Beach.
BurgerFi, Kilwin’s and a surf shop are some of the businesses he’s signed to fill the Pompano Fishing Village’s retail space.
“We didn’t want a McDonald’s, a Burger King or a Wendy’s,” he said. “We want a more interesting mix you can’t find on a suburban street.”
The city has invested some $50 million to improve a beachside area comprised of a few blocks north and south of Atlantic Boulevard. The last hotel opening in that area was in 1965 at the Sands Harbor Resort & Marina.
Redeveloping the beach has been on the city’s agenda since 2002, when company based in Delray