CORTEZ – Cortez Watersports’ owner John Cadmus is optimistic about the future, despite the pending Cortez Bridge construction project and plans to use the former Seafood Shack property as a construction staging area.
The construction of the new Cortez Bridge is scheduled to begin in early September.
Located at 4328 127th St. W., Cortez Watersports sits between the Cortez Bridge and the pending construction staging area.
Cortez Watersports features WaveRunner, pontoon boat and kayak rentals. Cadmus has also expanded his business operations to include the Cortez Bait Shack, which sells fresh and frozen bait, ice, snacks, cold drinks, boat supplies and fishing gear.
“We got some live shrimp in here,” he said.
The Seafood Shack property, which also used to include Annie’s Bait & Tackle, was purchased by Manatee County in 2024. Discussions about the future use of the site have included the possibility of a public boat launch and marina, or a park, and/or a Gulf Islands Ferry landing area. The Manatee County Commission recently approved a 60-day right of entry for the bridge contractor, SEMA Construction, to begin staging bridge construction equipment on the south side of the former Seafood Shack property. SEMA still seeks a long-term right of entry agreement that would allow at least three sections of the county-owned property to be used as a bridge construction staging area for three years or longer.
CADMUS OPTIMISTIC
“This area at the Seafood Shack has been stagnant for 40 years,” Cadmus said. “There’s a fine line between ‘old Florida’ and not taking care of things, and that’s what happened over there. It didn’t get taken care of.”
The Cadmus family has owned the Cortez Watersports property since 1952.
“I have no intention of going anywhere. I’m thoroughly excited about what it’s going to be like,” Cadmus said. “The bridge is going to be beautiful.”
Regarding the demolition of the Seafood Shack building and the boat docks, Cadmus said, “The sea life that they have over there now that all those docks are gone is unbelievable. The dolphins and the manatees all swim around the seawall. They herd the baitfish up around it. They (the county) should be commended for purchasing the property. I’m glad they did because it would be condos.”
Cadmus acknowledged that his business has been negatively affected by bridge-related preliminary construction work already taking place, but he takes a philosophical approach: “You have to break an egg to make a cake, so we have to deal with it. Hopefully, by allowing them to use the Seafood Shack property, it will make this bridge project go more efficiently. That will be beneficial to businesses here locally.”
Old photos of Cortez line the walls of Cortez Watersports.
“We try to honor some of the history of old Cortez,” Cadmus said. “If you look around here in Cortez, a lot of people in this village have been here for a long time, because they persevere. My grandfather, Milton Cadmus, always said, ‘You can’t lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.’”
Learn more at the Cortez Watersports website.
