Christian's on the Water just opened at Bay Pines Marina in Seminole

There's something satisfying about driving past a spot that's been boarded up since Hurricane Helene and seeing a string of lights, a tiki bar, and people actually sitting outside again. That's exactly what happened this past Saturday out at Bay Pines Marina in Seminole — and it's worth talking about.

What Opened (and What It Replaced)

The once-popular Harbor Master Tiki Grille never made it back after Hurricane Helene, but a brand new concept has taken its place: Christian's on the Water, an outdoor restaurant and tiki bar overlooking Bay Pines Marina, which soft-opened Saturday, May 16th at 4999 Harbor Lights Drive in Seminole.

The concept is the newest venture from Marc DeRusso, owner of DeRusso's Pizzeria in Tierra Verde and St. Pete — in fact, the St. Pete pizzeria is just down the street from the new restaurant.

DeRusso's first restaurant, Bourbon Street Grill in Colonie, NY, has been open for 27 years

, so this isn't a first-timer swinging for the fences. He knows the hospitality business.

How the Place Came Together

Last summer, Bowline Marinas purchased the 7.9-acre Bay Pines Marina property and approached DeRusso about taking over the former Harbor Master Tiki Grille space, which sustained damage during 2024's back-to-back hurricanes and never reopened.

Over the last five months, DeRusso refreshed the property with new furniture, air-conditioned portable bathrooms, renovations to the 22-seat tiki bar and shaded dining area, and landscaping upgrades to the turfed courtyard — including Adirondack chairs and cornhole.

It sounds low-key on paper, but for anyone who's spent a Saturday afternoon watching boats slip in and out of a Pinellas marina, you know that's exactly the vibe that works here.

What to Expect When You Go

The restaurant and bar will serve drinks only during opening weekend as it awaits final approval to begin food service on site.

Patience — food is coming.

A new 20-foot food trailer will serve what DeRusso describes as "coastal-inspired" dishes

once that green light arrives.

In the meantime, Christian's on the Water is offering beer, wine, and frozen, wine-based cocktails, including margaritas.

The full vision goes well beyond a drinks-only pop-up, though.

The outdoor restaurant plans to host live acoustic music seven days a week, and a small retail area will sell branded t-shirts, koozies, hats, sunscreen, and towels.

Think less "dive bar that forgot to clean the bathrooms" and more "the kind of place you stumble onto and cancel your afternoon plans."

Per St. Pete Standard,

DeRusso himself said, "Every day, people pass by the food trailer and ask when we're going to be open. I've been in business for a long time, but this has been one of the most difficult places to get open, just because of the unique nature of both the tiki bar and food trailer."

That's the kind of quote that makes you root for someone.

Why This Matters Beyond the Drinks Menu

The Bay Pines Marina corridor is one of those underrated Pinellas pockets that doesn't get the Instagram treatment that downtown St. Pete or Dunedin does — but it draws a genuinely local crowd. Boaters, retirees, the Friday afternoon crowd that leaves the office early. A waterfront spot with live music daily and a locally-owned kitchen concept is a real addition to that neighborhood's identity.

It's also one more signal that Pinellas County's waterfront scene is piecing itself back together after the Helene-Milton one-two punch of 2024. Slowly but surely, the spots that went dark are coming back — sometimes as something even better.

For buyers seriously considering the Seminole and north St. Pete corridor, this kind of neighborhood-anchoring business matters. Walkable (or boat-able) waterfront amenities are a genuine quality-of-life factor — and quality of life drives demand. If you're curious about what the broader Pinellas market looks like right now, take a look at my breakdown of the Pinellas County housing market in 2026, or explore what the best St. Pete neighborhoods for boaters look like from a real estate lens.

Christian's on the Water is at 4999 Harbor Lights Drive, Seminole — open now for drinks, food coming soon.