The baron of beach bums, Jimmy Buffett, in concert at Bristow, Virginia – Jiffy Lube Live.
Once upon a time, I sold t-shirts for Jimmy Buffett. We workers in the Merchandise department at Kings Dominion were responsible for that type of thing at concerts…. that little stand where consenting consumers happily hand over their cash to purchase t-shirts, decals, buttons, hats, etc…etc…
As a seventeen-year-old, it was a pretty cool deal to be able to listen to a free concert while selling souvenirs to Parrot Heads. Since I was not born under a rock, I was familiar with the Buffett brand but didn’t really know much about his music past “Margaritaville.”
Once the feeding frenzy that is the merchandise stand settles down, a form of magic takes over. As the heat of the day subsides, the lights dim and dusk settles in, it’s just the roar of the crowd and the sound of the song. I’ve been a fan ever since.
That’s my Parrot Head indoctrination story and I’m proud of it. Ironically enough, the term “Parrot Head” originated at Kings Dominion’s sister park, Kings Island, in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can even read about it by clicking right here.
I’m on a mission to visit every Margaritaville Café in every state, island or province where there is one. I’ve been to Key West (the original and, so far, my favorite), Orlando, and Myrtle Beach but have quite a ways to go. At the rate Jimmy is going at developing new ones – including a hotel in Pensacola and the casinos in Las Vegas and Biloxi (can’t leave them out) – it may take a while to get to all of them. I have patience. I am on island time, after all.
The original Margaritaville – Key West, Florida
CityWalk at Universal Orlando features a bunch of famous name restaurants, including Emeril’s, Bob Marley’s, Bubba Gump and Margaritaville. We are big fans of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and always make it a special point to make a stop at Margaritaville. It is my mecca in the middle of MCO. That would be Orlando, in case you didn’t know.
Margaritaville Orlando at Universal’s CityWalk features the Lone Palm bar and a giant replica of Jimmy’s plane, The Hemisphere Dancer.
More Margaritaville Orlando.
The Myrtle Beach branch of M’Ville is located at Broadway at the Beach and has a really cool ship and lighthouse exterior.
Margaritaville Myrtle Beach at Broadway at the Beach, South Carolina
And the interior….
Interior view at Margaritaville Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
As a writer, I’ve gotten the opportunity to write about several Margaritaville products and partnerships, including LandShark and Ocean Conservancy’s Fin-tastic beach cleanup tour, Parrot Head sun care products, the opening of the Biloxi Margaritaville Restaurant and Casino, as well as many other Margaritaville restaurant news and events. I hope to have many more.
Tequila, LandShark and mixers aside, I’m a big fan of M’Ville products. I’ve recently acquired the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker (Bahamas version) and am hooked on it. A regular blender has nothing on this baby. Oh, and I don’t go anywhere without my M’Ville sunglasses. Best ever. Now I just need to check out that Parrot Head sun care and I’ll be set. “Watchin’ the sun bake…..”
Fins Up!
Somewhere in the Sand 