ANNA MARIA – The City Pier Grill & Bait Shop is open.
Operating at the T-end of the new Anna Maria City Pier, in space leased from the city of Anna Maria, the new grill and bait shop opened at noon on Thursday, Dec. 10, and is now open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., with shorter operating hours anticipated on some major holidays.
With a pier tenant now occupying the pier, the new Anna Maria City Pier is now open seven days a week during those same business hours. Since the pier opened in mid-June, it had only been only open three days a week until 5 p.m.
With approximately 300 square feet of interior space, the City Pier Grill offers no indoor seating. Shared with the public, the seating consists of wooden tables and benches on the open-air deck that faces the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The grill and bait shop are operated by GSM Partners LLC, which consists of Anna Maria General Store proprietor Brian Seymour, Dips Ice Cream proprietor Vic Mattay and Nick Graham. Earlier this year, Graham, Seymour and Mattay partnered to open Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle next to the general store that also is home to Dips.
Standing on the pier early after the grill and bait shop opened, Mattay said, “It feels awesome. It was great to open that gate today and see everybody come in with a smile on their face. Nick did the honors of opening the gate.”
“I’m super happy to get it open for the public. It’s time for everybody to come out here and enjoy the food and atmosphere that we bring,” Graham said.
“We’re serving a full menu and kitchen’s open full speed. It’ll be a few more days before we get our beer and wine license,” Seymour said.
Menu offerings
The breakfast menu includes a $5 breakfast sandwich, $4 biscuits and gravy, an $8 American breakfast, $10 bagel and lox and $2 coffee, as well as yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit and more.
The lunch and dinner menu includes $6 chicken wings, $9 fish tacos, $8 hand-battered fresh Gulf shrimp, an $8 Cuban sandwich, an $8 City Pier Cheeseburger, chicken sandwich or veggie burger, a $4 pier dog or veggie dog, a $14 mahi sandwich, an $18 crab cake sandwich and much more.
The sweet treats menu includes soft serve ice cream with various toppings, gelato or Italian ice, a warm brownie sundae, shakes, malts, floats and snow cones. It also includes Key lime pie, peanut butter pie, brownies and cookies baked up the street at Hometown Desserts.
Seymour, a former city commissioner, said, “I want to thank the mayor, city commissioners, city staff and everyone who helped us achieve everything we set out to do four months ago when we submitted our proposal. We really appreciate their help and support and it’s nice to see this become a reality.”
Sold outside the grill building, the initial bait shop offerings included live shrimp and shiners, frozen squid and sardines and an assortment of tackle. Aaron Graham, Nick’s brother, delivered the shiners by boat as the opening occurred.
“And we have our full-service bait shop just up the street for more extensive needs,” Seymour said.
City Pier Grill & Bait Shop T-shirts are also for sale, with additional apparel, hats and other items coming soon.
Opening day attendees
Seasonal Cortez residents Linda and Chuck Hare were among the first City Pier Grill customers.
“Our friend Nick is one of the partners,” Linda said while waiting for coffee, her chicken wings and his Cuban sandwich.
“I love it, it’s cute,” she said of the overall setup.
“I think they’ve done a fantastic job,” Chuck added.
While standing in line to order for herself, her husband James and their five children, Holmes Beach resident Katy Roadman said, “I’ve been waiting for the pier to open.”
She said James did the interior renovations for the grill building.
While eating, James said, “We wanted to move to a community that we could get involved with and be a part of. To help build something that everyone can enjoy is really cool.”
Regarding his food, James said, “The blackened mahi is amazing.”
“Delicious,” Katy added.
Tampa resident Les Parker enjoyed the afternoon fishing from the corner of the pier.
“It’s a wonderful day. Catching is the bonus, but fishing is the best,” he said.
The opening day ceremonies also included live acoustic music from The Stockton Brothers.
Due to scheduling commitments, Mayor Dan Murphy was not present for the noon opening.
When contacted later that day, he said, “I am elated that we now have a great place to not only enjoy a grouper sandwich and an ice-cold beer, but also sunrises on Tampa Bay, a view of Egmont Key and the Gulf of Mexico sunsets. Our pier is back.”
When contacted, Commissioner Carol Carter said, “It’s a wonderful Hanukkah/Christmas gift for all of us.”
