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The recent
July opening
of the Hyatt
Place East
End Hotel in
Riverhead,
N.Y. is a
major step
in the
ongoing
metamorphosis
of the
"Riverhead
Renaissance".
The hotel is
the vision
of Jimmy
Bissett and
Joe
Petrocelli.
Over a
decade ago,
Jimmy first
built a
marina off
the river,
and then
because of
his love of
aquariums as
a child and
boy growing
up he wanted
to bring an
aquarium to
Riverhead.
After
meeting with
banks and
particularly
John Kanas
of the North
Fork Bank
who
expressed a
mild
reception
for the
idea, Jimmy
joined
forces with
Joseph
Petrocelli
who had a
major
contracting
firm and
together
they
financed the
aquarium and
exhibition
center
themselves.
The L.I.
Aquarium
opened in
2000 and has
become a
major east
end
attraction
with over
100,000
visits
annually.
Many of the
visitors
expressed
their desire
to house a
hotel where
they could
spend a few
days
visiting the
beaches,
kayaking and
canoeing,
shopping
outlets,
golf
courses,
fishing,
u-pick
farms,
visiting the
many
wineries and
quaint farms
all along
the North
Fork to
Orient Point
and of
course also
the South
Fork, The
Hamptons and
Montauk
Point.
Jimmy and
Joseph
approached
the Hyatt
about doing
the joint
venture and
once they
had an
agreement
they broke
ground and
in months
opened Hyatt
Place to
rave
reviews.
The Hyatt
has 100
rooms, and
indoor and
outdoor
pool, a
weight room
and a snack
bar
restaurant.
Both Jimmy
and Joseph
enjoy what
they do and
their
enthusiasm
is inspiring
to both the
staffs of
the hotel
and the
aquarium.
They have
just added a
colorful
live
Butterfly
exhibit with
plants and
flowers. It
has over 200
butterflies
flying
around and
above your
head. It is
definitely
"a Kodak
moment".
The room
next to it
is filled
with 50
exotic and
colorful
small
parrots that
also fly
around and
create a
delightful
experience.
The grand
banquet hall
and party
rooms are in
construction
and will be
ready for
mid-fall
2011
events. The
front
entrance has
superb
arches that
reminds one
of the
Doge's
Palace in
Venice with
a 2
storied
arcade of
arches on
the ground
floor and on
the parallel
2nd floor,
and they are
being
finished
with
glorious
blue mosaic
tiles within
the arches -
it is truly
stunning and
filled with
panache
inspired by
classicism.
Jimmy
Bissett and
Joseph
Petrocelli
have a close
and profound
association
and love for
perfection
that follows
the maxim
"Carpe Diem"
(Seize the
Day).
Bravo, Bravo
...
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