John R. DeSilva

Managing Partner

Producer/Executive Producer
Designer/Architect/General Contractor
Boutique Hospitality Industry and High-End Real Estate

1100 Brightwaters Blvd. N.E.
St. Petersburg FL 33704

Residential, Commercial and Retail Development and Construction

Mr. DeSilva as CEO and President of The John R. DeSilva Corporation (JRDC) and as its Designer, Architect and General Contractor, spent twenty-five years in the retail design and construction industry on an international level. Mentored in his early twenties in the Garment District of New York City by Paul Lavin and Isadore “Izzy” Rosenblum on more things in life than any formal education could ever hope to provide, John DeSilva ultimately designed and built a regional chain of Women’s Clothing Stores for Lavin and Rosenblum called “Stuff to Wear”.

JRDC ultimately grew to have a clientele of retail magnates such as Gianni Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, GiorgioArmani, Cartier, Jimmy Choo, Van Cleef & Arpel, Bvlgari, Gucci, Nina Ricci, Hermes and Donna Karan as well as many other top retail brands. JRDC designed and built many retail stores and restaurants both in the enclosed Shopping Centers of America and free-standing stores in the major cities of Chicago, New York, Dallas, L.A., Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive, Palm Beach on Worth Avenue, Boston at Copley Square, Orlando and Miami and many others including projects in the Bahamas and Florence Italy (Firenze, Italia).

As a result of Mr. DeSilva’s design talent, several national food and dry good chains of 80+ stores were born such as “Nature’s Table”. Mr. DeSilva also gained the respect of notable enclosed shopping center developers such as The Leonard L. Farber Corp., The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, The Rouse Company, Simon Properties, J&M Properties and The Cafaro Company, among others. JRDC never missed a deadline in any time sensitive project in twenty-five years. Mr. DeSilva retired from this successful career in 1995.

Boutique Hospitality Industry & High-End Real Estate

In 1996, Mr. DeSilva expanded his portfolio to include multiple real estate acquisitions throughout Florida, Italy, California, Chicago and the Bahamas. One of the more notable acquisitions in 1997 was The Former Estate of Anheuser-Busch International and Busch Entertainment Corporation in Pass-A-Grille Beach Florida. (See The Birds of Paradise Boutique Resort & Marina for more).

This entire process of branding, marketing, and promoting this $1.1 million dollar property over the next four years resulted in an appraised value of over $19 million at the height of the market, bringing in revenues of $5,000 to $15,000 per night in early 2000 with a consistent annual occupancy rate of 80%.

Mr. DeSilva successfully owned this world renowned Hospitality Venue for 21 years. During those years, he was heralded as a pioneer and leader in the Boutique Luxury Hospitality industry by the local media and his peers. Against all odds, John initiated a campaign and upon its success established and redefined the concept of the Hospitality Venue. That victory translated to a total domestic and residential renaissance being brought to a stagnating hotel industry. This concept was unilaterally embraced by the discriminating and affluent world traveler as well as by the World Famous Four Star Resort of The Don CeSar Beach Hotel as a very successful off-site amenity. In 2017, Mr. DeSilva sold The Birds of Paradise Boutique Resort & Marina and received a value north of $13 million dollars.

Film Industry

John R. DeSilva founded Caribbean Pictures Entertainment in 2014 and is currently the CEO of this up and coming independent film company. Mr. DeSilva’s leadership as an independent content supplier, ability to deliver platform-defining shows and feature films in all genres to new buyers, and willingness to innovate unique business models all position his company to capitalize on opportunities throughout the global marketplace in the ever-changing entertainment arena.

John DeSilva partnered with Gordon Michaels, actor, Director and Screen writer of Brandon Street Films to prepare and launch the feature film PaleoJoe and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Lost. Mr. DeSilva is additionally working and developing several other viable >entertainment properties. Mr. DeSilva has the exclusive rights to produce the movie The Silent Don, the story of the Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr.

Mr. DeSilva and his company, Caribbean Pictures Entertainment is working with Nick Pileggi, Screen Writer for the Martin Scorsese films Good Fellas, Casino, The Irishman, and many more in the development of The Silent Don production. (See John R. DeSilva IMDb Caribbean Pictures Entertainment for more)