ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy expects the new Anna Maria City Pier to open in April, but he has not yet determined an exact opening date.
“It looks like in the April timeframe we’ll be opening the pier for fishing and sightseeing,” Murphy told the city commission on Thursday, March 12.
Murphy said Florida Power & Light completed its work on the pier that day. That work consisted of installing transformers and electrical connections needed to light the new pier and to power the new restaurant, bait shop and public restrooms at the pier’s T-end.
Murphy said he would provide a specific opening date once he completes an analysis of the remaining work that needs to be done.
Due to the lingering concerns and uncertainties associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19), Murphy said he and the commission will soon determine whether the city will host grand opening ceremonies for the pier as previously discussed.
Pier RFP deadlines
As of Sunday, no changes had been made to the existing schedule for interested restaurateurs to respond to the city’s request for proposals for a new pier tenant to lease the restaurant and bait shop buildings.
According to the city website, Wednesday, March 25 is still the last day to submit written questions about the city-owned spaces for lease. Wednesday, April 8 is still the deadline to submit the pier lease proposals scheduled to be opened inside the commission chambers at approximately 1 p.m. that day.
Murphy recently said he expects the new restaurant and bait shop to open during the fourth quarter of the current year or the first quarter of 2021.
