April 7, 2025 | Business, Restaurants | Bars

Drift-In reopening brings joy to many

The Friday morning ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the Drift-In’s reopening. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift-In bar is open again after a prolonged, post-hurricane permitting dispute with the city.

The historic Bridge Street bar once owned by baseball legend Babe Ruth reopened on April 4 at 7 a.m. with a short line of patrons waiting to enjoy their first drinks there since Hurricane Helene’s storm surge badly flooded the bar last September.

Dobie Gray’s hit song “Drift Away” played over loudspeakers in the final minutes before the Drift-In reopened and again after it opened.

Derek and Helena Williams bought the bar from Helena’s parents, Joe and Angie Cuervo, in December 2022.

While standing behind the inside bar as the first drinks were being served, Derek Williams said, “It feels wonderful. It’s awesome to be open again. We love to see all the smiling faces and we’re ready to set this thing off.”

As the first drinks were poured, Toby Keith’s dive bar anthem, “I Love This Bar,” played.

“We were closed for six long months, but it seems like yesterday,” Williams said. “The essence of the bar’s the same. The people are the same but we had to spruce it up a little bit so it’s safer, better, stronger and ready for whatever comes at it.”

Smoking is no longer allowed inside the bar but is allowed in the tiki hut and at the outdoor bar.

When asked about his expectations for the reopening weekend, Williams said, “I hope we set records. We’ve got a lot of interest from the public.”

While pouring her first drinks at the Drift-In in six months, inside bartender Tiara Hooper was on the verge of tears when she said, “It feels so good to be back behind the bar again.”

While serving the first drinks at the new outside bar, bartender Heather Bailey McNeal said she couldn’t yet put into words how she felt.

“I love it,” she said.

Displaced Pines Trailer Park residents Suzy Smith and Kay Smith were among the first to grab seats at the new inside bar. They now live with family members in Punta Gorda and don’t expect to ever live in the Pines again due to various issues with the mobile home park’s ownership group.

“We wouldn’t miss this,” Suzy said, with her mom sitting beside her. “We wanted to get a good seat. We drove up from Punta Gorda and stayed in the Pines last night. We’ll still be coming up.”

Sitting in the new and expanded tiki hut with family members and family friends, 26-year-old Michigan resident Paige Murphy enjoyed a Bloody Mary and a Lemon Drop shot before making her way to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to catch her flight home, taking a new Drift-In T-shirt with her.

While enjoying a coffee and liqueur drink inside the bar, longtime patron Mike Cunningham said, “I feel whole again. A piece of me was missing.”

When she arrived around 8 a.m., manager/bartender Doreen Flynn said, “Oh my God. It feels so good to be back. When I got home late last night, after we finished getting everything ready, I cried tears of joy. I missed everybody. I missed my job. I’ve been here 25 years and I’m not going anywhere.”

At 8:30 a.m., the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, the Anna Maria Island Privateers and several staff members and patrons gathered in front of the Drift-In for a ceremonial ribbon cutting, with Derek Williams and Joe Cuervo doing the honors.

After the ribbon cutting, Joe and Angie Cuervo expressed their appreciation for what their daughter and son-in-law accomplished.

“It’s wonderful that they kept the legacy going. My wife and I are so proud of what Derek and Helena have done,” Joe said.

“We’re thrilled about this and Derek has great taste,” Angie said of the renovations.

Derek and Helena’s son, Tyler Williams, and General Manager Dan Zelko also played vital roles in the repair and renovation efforts.

“Tyler’s construction knowledge was invaluable to us,” Zelko said. “I am so happy to finally be back here seeing all my people!”

The renovated interior includes an expanded inside seating area, a large roll-up window that faces Bridge Street, a relocated liquor storage area, renovated bathrooms and a new roll-up bay door that faces the tiki hut seating area.

And Mannie, the Drift-In’s legendary and much-photographed mannequin mascot, is back home and positioned in a new location.

The tiki bar area includes a new concrete block bar, a textured concrete floor, a new walk-in cooler and new ice machines.

Performing as a solo act later that morning, singer/guitarist Tommy Balbo was the first musical act to play in the new tiki hut, followed by Dos-Macs returning to their regular Friday afternoon “Liquid Lunch” gig.

Later that night, Rob Hamm & The Daily Specials christened the relocated and expanded inside music area.

“It was so amazing to be back,” Hamm said Saturday morning. “The place looks beautiful. The crowd was amazing and filled with energy. Seeing so many old friends and meeting new ones made it a perfect night to come back.”

The reopening celebration continued Saturday and Sunday as the Drift-In’s hurricane recovery process reached its end, with some final permitting issues to be finalized by the city commission on April 8.