CORTEZ – While Manatee County commissioners have not set a demolition date for Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop, they gave Annie’s former owners an April 7 deadline to remove their personal items from the property.
In a March 7 certified letter to Annie’s former co-owner Bruce Shearer, county Project Manager Jeff Anthony wrote: “This letter serves as notification that any personal property you wish to claim from Annie’s Bait and Tackle must be retrieved within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice.
“Memorabilia, sentimental items and fishing supplies are being safely stored in large tote containers in a locked facility. Please contact me to coordinate picking up the totes. Any items remaining on the property on the 30th day will be deemed abandoned.”
Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan wrote in a March 27 email to The Sun: “Unfortunately, there is no set date (for demolition) at this time.”
Outside the iconic bait shop, well-wishers have left flowers and messages of support.
“I think it’s great that the community is doing that for us,” Shearer said. “I want to thank all those people.”
He said people in Cortez aren’t happy about the pending demolition of the building and business he’s owned since 1996.
“People have a lot of memories there,” Shearer said. “I had a plumber working at my house, he’s probably in his 40s and he told me when he was a little kid, he used to go to Annie’s to get shrimp for fishing.”
Shearer said people have asked him for Annie’s memorabilia.
“I still have stock. I’m doing an inventory,” he said. “What I think I might do is have shirts made that say, ‘January 1, 1996 – March 4, 2025, RIP Annie’s.’”
Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 on March 4 against entering into a lease agreement with Annie’s and for the demolition of the 70-year-old Cortez landmark, sited on the Seafood Shack parcel that the county recently purchased for $13 million, which is slated to become a public boat launch facility. Commissioner Jason Bearden cast the dissenting vote.
That vote followed a January directive by county commissioners to have staff explore options to bring Annie’s up to code. Following recommendations and a review by a structural engineer, the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) and fire officials, Manatee County Commissioners voted for the demolition.
Shearer said the county declined his offer to make repairs to both the building and the county-owned docks at his expense.
Spray-painted on the side of Annie’s is “45.8% FEMA,” referring to the evaluation of damage to the building.
“It was less than 50% and we should have been able to fix it up,” Shearer said. “They (Manatee County) had a plan. They put us through a dog and pony show to appease people.”
