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.
All the seating at the City Pier Grill is outdoor seating. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
From left, business partners Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham enjoyed their opening day. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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 menu includes an $8 City Pier Cheeseburger. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
The sweet treats menu includes soft-serve ice cream and much more. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
Barry Jones helps oversee the bait shop operations. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.
Linda Hare was among the first City Pier Grill customers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“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.
Tampa resident Les Parker spent the afternoon fishing next to the new City Pier Grill & Bait Shop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
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.”
ANNA MARIA – The City Pier Grill could open this week or next, according to Brian Seymour, who will operate the business with partners Nick Graham and Vic Mattay.
The exact opening date will be announced on the City Pier Grill Facebook page.
When the business opens, the City Pier will be open to the public seven days a week for the first time since the new pier opened to the public three days a week in June. All seating will be outside.
“We are excited to get going, and the mayor’s excited to get the pier up and running. We want to get this pier open seven days a week and the city wants that as well,” said Seymour, of GSM Partners LLC.
“We’ll be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. We’ll be open 365 days a year. On holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, there might be some adjusted hours, but we will be open so the locals and tourists can enjoy the pier on major holidays,” Seymour said.
“We’ve got our live bait tanks set up and ready to go. We’ll have bait and tackle, breakfast, lunch and beyond and sweet treats,” he added.
As the city’s new pier tenants, City Pier Grill will operate in and around the smaller of the two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the pier.
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Seymour provided a tour of the work taking place.
The kitchen hood installation was among the work taking place during Thanksgiving week. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While standing inside the 300-square-foot interior space, Seymour said, “We’re at the finishing stages. We’ll be finishing up the hood installation and installing the electrical plugs and plates and kitchen equipment soon.”
The food and beverage equipment includes two fryers, a flattop grill, a charbroiler, a small freezer, a beer and wine cooler and a kegerator.
Seymour said he hopes to have the final inspections completed this week, if possible.
“The tropical storm set us back,” Seymour said of the weather conditions and rough seas that delayed the gas company and plumbers from getting under the pier in a boat to complete those connections.
“We have a good core staff and we’re still looking for talented, experienced people. This is going to be a fast-paced, fun and energetic work environment,” Seymour said.
Those seeking employment can send an email to CityPierGrill@gmail.com or stop by in person after the opening.
Grill offerings
The breakfast menu will include breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, fresh fruits, coffees, teas and more.
The Bradenton-based Banyan Coffee Company will provide the coffees, brewed teas and ice teas and Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton will provide fresh juices.
“The lunch and beyond menu will have fish and chips, fish sandwiches, fish tacos, shrimp baskets, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and more. We have a vegetarian-type hot dog and burger too. We’ll have a made-to-order wedge salad and Caesar salad and we’ll have daily breakfast and lunch and beyond specials,” Seymour said.
“We’ll have a full sweet treat menu with soft-serve ice cream, gelatos, waffle cones and select pies from Hometown Desserts, a favorite here on the Island. We’ll have draft beer, local craft beers and a nice wine selection. We’ll have six beers on tap,” Seymour said.
“Our plan is to eventually have live acoustic music and we’re looking for local musicians who are interested in performing out here,” he said of the rear deck that faces the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
With live bait wells out front, the City Pier Grill will operate in and around the smaller of the two city-owned pier buildings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Chris Powers will serve as operations manager.
“My duties will include making sure we have adequate staff at all times and that anyone who comes out for bait is taken care of. I’ll also have the duties of a pier attendant, making sure the guests are having a good time and are safe,” Powers said.
His son, Jacob Powers, will serve as executive chef.
“I’ll make sure we’ve got consistent food quality and the customers are happy with their experience and what they’re eating,” Jacob Powers said.
His kitchen experience includes stints at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria, The Feast Restaurant in Holmes Beach and a few restaurants in Tennessee. He also helped open and manage a French bakery.
Seymour, the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store, said, “Mostly recently, Jacob has been the chef at the General Store. His talents, creativity and ability to make great specials are definitely going to benefit us out here on the pier. We’re looking forward to him continuing his growth out here.”
ANNA MARIA – Barring any unforeseen circumstances, The City Pier Grill is still on track to open on Friday, Nov. 20.
Also featuring a bait shop, The City Pier Grill will be operated by GSM Partners LLC, which consists of Brian Seymour, Nick Graham and Vic Mattay.
During the Thursday, Oct. 8 commission meeting, Seymour provided Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commissioners with an update on the interior buildout and equipment installations to come and a two-page printout of the working plan and timeline for the work taking place.
“While you don’t physically see much going on right yet, there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to shorten our buildout time,” Seymour told the commission.
Seymour said the group is in the process of selecting a contractor to complete the interior buildout of the city-owned building the group is leasing.
Seymour said the selected contractor will then produce the mechanical drawings needed to obtain city-issued building permits that allow the buildout work to begin.
“I envision that within the next week or two that we would be submitting permit requests,” Seymour said.
Seymour said GSM Partners would like to use the currently vacant primary pier building as the staging area for the equipment to be installed in the smaller grill and bait shop building to the west, which he said would help shorten the construction timeline.
Murphy said he preferred this approach rather than hauling things out to the T-end of the pier on a daily basis and suggested storing all equipment, material and supplies in the primary building while the interior buildout of the City Pier Grill building takes place.
“I think it’s a good plan,” Murphy said.
“It does sound like a very reasonable solution to the wear and tear on people and equipment,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added later in the discussion.
Commissioner Mark Short said the staging area would alleviate the need for the contractor’s crew to set up and tear down each day, which in turn would make the process more efficient.
Looking further ahead, Seymour said when the time comes, GSM Partners will need the city planner to sign off on the group’s beer and wine sales license application – a use allowed by city code.
Seymour said GSM Partners anticipates hiring its general manager this week and has at least four qualified candidates to choose from. The general manager will then assist with the rest of the staffing decisions.
Seymour told the commission he’s heard from many people who are interested in working on the pier.
“We’re still shooting for Nov. 20,” Seymour said regarding the anticipated opening date for the City Pier Grill.
Seymour provided the commission with a draft version of The City Pier logo that also references the bait shop. The logo incorporates several birds, a dolphin and the latitude and longitude of the pier.
“The birds certainly are appropriate,” Murphy said.
Commissioner Jon Crane asked Seymour about the wi-fi installation scheduled for the following evening. Seymore said there would be a public wi-fi connection for the public to use and a private and secure connection for business purposes.
In conclusion, Seymour said, “We appreciate all your support and we’re looking forward to getting it done. We’re still working hard every day to make it happen.”
When The City Pier Grill opens, the new pier will be open seven days a week for the first time since the newly-built pier opened in June. The pier is currently open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
ANNA MARIA – The large sailboat that’s been grounded offshore near the Anna Maria City Pier since mid-December is expected to be removed as early as this week.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Public Information Officer Adam Brown provided an update on the pending vessel removal by email on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
“I’ve reached out to our derelict vessel coordinator and was told the required 35-day waiting period necessary to give the registered owner an opportunity to remove the vessel will have elapsed on Friday, Sept. 18. With that being the case, we have also reached out to staff with WCIND (West Coast Inland Navigation District) and confirmed that they too are aware of this timeframe and are taking the proper steps to proceed with removal if the registered owner has not taken action before Friday. Sometimes the bidding process for removal and the removal itself can take some time, but I feel confident this is something that will take priority and I hope you will see movement beginning next week,” Brown wrote in his email response.
Brown said he also spoke with Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy earlier in the week about the long-anticipated vessel removal.
During the Thursday, Sept. 10 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Chair Carol Carter said derelict and liveaboard vessel concerns were discussed at the ManaSota League of Cities meeting she participated in earlier that day.
“We had another public inquiry about issues regarding unsafe liveaboard concerns on derelict vessels,” Carter said.
Carter said Bradenton Beach resident Barbara Baker manages three condominium associations that are having issues with unsafe liveaboard vessels and has contacted state Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and former state Rep. and current Florida Senate candidate Jim Boyd about these concerns.
Derelict and liveaboard vessels south of the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach have long been a source of community concern. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Carter said the ManaSota League of Cities members who represent the Manatee and Sarasota County communities plan to add derelict and liveaboard vessel concerns to their list of the League’s 2021 legislative priorities.
“I made comments about our one derelict vessel that has not been moved for nine months or so, even though the mayor tells me there’s plenty of money available. I think there may be some legislation coming up at the next session with regards to these kinds of things because there are many coastal communities in Florida that are affected. We’re bringing to light how much of an issue it is. It affects public safety and it also affects the water quality,” Carter said.
Murphy said during the conversations he had in July with WCIND and FWC officials, he was told the money was earmarked and the vessel would be removed within the next 30 days or so.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy says the City Pier grill and bait shop lease negotiations are going well with Brian Seymour and his partners, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, Murphy told the city commission he’s still on track to present them with a proposed lease contract on Thursday, Sept. 24. Next Thursday’s commission meeting will begin immediately after the conclusion of the 6 p.m. final budget hearing.
During last week’s commission meeting, Murphy said he and Commissioner Jon Crane had their first fact-finding meeting earlier that week and planned to have their second meeting the following day.
“I think we’re on target, and I committed to coming back to you with a contract on the 24th. It looks pretty good. We made some significant progress in terms of getting organized. The next major step is for the city attorney to provide a draft of a contract.”
City Attorney Becky Vose told the mayor and commission she’d been working on the lease contract for three days and would finish it that night and send it to Murphy.
Murphy said he and Crane would look over the contract and send it to Seymour and his partners to review.
“And then, we can hopefully come to some agreement. We’re on track for the 24th,” Murphy said.
Crane said he echoed the mayor’s comments.
“I found the group, the three of them, to be very cooperative, very helpful. The questions they asked of us were astute and few, and they really seemed like they’re ready to get going and put out a good product out there. I was reviewing their menu again today and my mouth started watering. It was a good meeting,” Crane said.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the city commission deemed the group consisting of Seymour, Mattay and Graham its top choice to operate the City Pier grill and bait shop.
Seymour’s group proposed paying $6,000 per month in rent, with an annual 2.5% rent increase. The trio anticipates spending an additional $41,350 to complete the interior buildout of the city-owned building.
From left, Nick Graham, Brian Seymour and Vic Mattay are forming a partnership to operate a grill and bait shop on the Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Seymour owns and operates the Anna Maria General Store & Deli in leased space on Pine Avenue. Mattay owns Dips Ice Cream, and shares space inside the general store. Graham manages Dips and he and his brother, Aaron, own and operate Graham Slam fishing charters in Cortez.
Seymour, Mattay and Graham are equal partners in the Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle store adjacent to the general store and are forming a similar partnership for their anticipated pier-based business operations. Seymour recently told The Sun he hopes to open the grill and bait shop before Thanksgiving.
The commission favored the Seymour group’s proposal over the proposal submitted by FP Growth Partners, who proposed paying $5,500 per month in initial base rent or 6% of gross revenues, whichever was higher. FP Growth Partners also offered to take the bait shop building as is and complete the interior buildout at no additional expense to the city. Murphy said that could save the city $50,000 to $75,000 in upfront costs.
FP Growth Partners owns and operates multiple Poppo’s Taquerias, including the Pine Avenue location.
The city currently has no plans to seek a tenant to operate a full-service restaurant in the larger of the two City Pier buildings.
ANNA MARIA – The group consisting of Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham is the city commission’s top choice to operate the City Pier grill and bait shop.
During Friday’s emergency meeting, the commission favored the proposal Seymour presented over the proposal Mike Coleman presented on behalf of FP Growth Partners LLC.
Mayor Dan Murphy is now authorized to negotiate a five-year lease with Seymour for the group’s operation of a grill and bait shop in the smaller of the two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the new City Pier. The initial five-year lease will provide Seymour’s group with an option for one five-year renewal.
Murphy hopes to present a negotiated lease for final commission approval on Thursday, Sept. 24. If lease terms cannot be reached with Seymour’s group, Murphy will seek commission authorization to negotiate a lease agreement with FP Growth Partners.
Commissioners Carol Carter, Jon Crane, Joe Muscatello and Mark Short each said this was a difficult choice to make.
“I think both parties, both proposals were outstanding. We couldn’t go wrong, and it was a very hard decision,” Short said.
Two finalists named
Friday’s meeting was preceded by an emergency meeting on Tuesday that resulted in the commission unanimously naming Seymour’s group and FP Growth Partners as its top two choices. This eliminated from further consideration the proposals submitted by Harry’s Continental Kitchens and the father-daughter tandem team of Sherman and Sarah Baldwin.
Harry’s Continental Kitchens proposed paying $1,500 per month in base rent or a percentage-based rent to be negotiated. The Baldwins proposed $2,000 per month in base rent, plus up to 10% of gross revenues.
The mayor and commission expressed concerns about the risks associated with percentage-based rents and the four bidders did not address the commission on Tuesday.
Carter expressed concerns about Coleman’s public criticism of the city commission in a recent letter to the editor that ran in a local newspaper. The letter referred to an amended alcoholic beverages ordinance the mayor later vetoed. Carter said it’s important for the city to have a good working relationship with its pier partner.
Seymour’s group proposed paying $6,000 per month/$72,000 per year in base rent, with an annual 2.5% increase. Seymour’s group anticipates spending an additional $41,350 to complete its share of the interior buildout for the bait shop building.
Seymour is the owner-operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli on Pine Avenue. Mattay owns Dips Ice Cream, which shares space inside the general store. Graham manages Dips and he and his brother, Aaron, own and operate Graham Slam fishing charters in Cortez.
Seymour, Mattay and Graham are equal one-third partners in the Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle store that opened next to the general store earlier this year and the trio plans to form a similar partnership for their City Pier business operations.
FP Growth Partners proposed paying $5,500 per month/$66,000 per year in initial base rent or 6% of gross revenues, whichever was higher.
FP Growth Partners offered to take the bait shop building as is and complete the interior buildout at no additional expense to the city. Murphy said that could save the city $50,000 to $75,000 in upfront costs.
FP Growth Partners operates multiple Poppo’s Taquerias, including the Pine Avenue location.
In the mid-2000s, Coleman and restaurateur/businessman Ed Chiles completed the Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) project along Pine Avenue that continues to provide retail, office and vacation rental/residential space.
Coleman presentation
On Friday, Coleman and Seymour were each given 10 minutes to explain and elaborate on the written proposals the commissioners reviewed prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
Going first, Coleman touted the success of the PAR project and Poppo’s Taquerias.
“If you want to find out what somebody’s going to do, take a look at what they’ve done already,” he said.
Coleman said his sons Casey and Patrick and Patrick’s wife, Rowen, founded Poppo’s.
“They own 60%. I own 10%,” he said.
Coleman estimated the pier grill and bait shop could gross up to $1.5 million per year and 6% of that would equate to $90,000 in rent for the city.
“The promise is $5,500. The opportunity is 6% of $1.2 to $1.5 million. As the business does better, the city does better,” he said.
Coleman reiterated the group’s willingness to take the bait shop as is and spare the city those buildout costs.
Mike Coleman presented FP Growth Partners’ proposal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
FP Growth Partners’ proposed menu included $3-5 breakfast sandwiches, $4-9 fresh ground beef burgers, $5-8 fried clam bellies, $8-12 wild-caught fish sandwiches, hand-cut fries fried in duck fat, seasonal soups, soft drinks with no high fructose corn syrup, $4-6 draft and local craft beers and $6 sangria.
Coleman said the menu items remained open to discussion, but his group would not compromise on Poppo’s quality standards and use of fresh ingredients.
Coleman also said FP Growth Partners spent the past 18 months testing an app-based delivery system and automated ordering kiosks.
“If you’re fishing halfway down the pier, we’ll bring the food to you. If you’re coming on your boat, place an order on your app,” Coleman said.
His group’s proposed bait shop offerings included live shrimp, frozen shrimp, frozen squid and possibly fresh fiddler crabs and pinfish.
Coleman addressed Carter’s previous concerns about his relationship with the city. He noted he previously paid for a half-page ad in which he praised the city’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t want my kids’ opportunity to be canceled because someone took a personal objection to something I said,” Coleman said.
He also noted his group’s willingness to also lease the larger pier building originally intended for use as a full-service restaurant.
Muscatello asked Coleman what he had in mind for the larger building.
“Our personal vision for that is more of a historic reminder of who we are. I think you could have a great, low-impact retail operation over there that’s both educational and profitable,” Coleman said.
The future use of the larger pier building on the right remains unknown. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
FP Growth Partners proposed operating the grill and bait shop from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Murphy asked Coleman who would serve as the group’s main point of contact.
“I handle site selection, lease negotiation, financials, all that kind of stuff,” Coleman said.
He said once that initial process was complete, his office manager would be the main point of contact.
Seymour presentation
Seymour said his group plans to use approximately 36 square feet of the larger pier building for a portable refrigerator and a portable freezer. He said those two appliances would be on wheels and could be easily relocated if the larger building is leased to another tenant.
“We can do this because within a block of the pier we have our three brick and mortar businesses. And I have a massive walk-in cooler there already. We’re not going to run out of product,” Seymour said.
He also noted much of the grill prep work could be done ahead of time at the general store.
Seymour said his group is also interested in the larger pier building that could possibly provide additional indoor seating, but that was not the primary focus of the city’s request for proposals for a grill and bait shop.
Regarding his group’s proposed menu, Seymour said, “We have added items that are pier-friendly, keeping in mind that we are not a full-service restaurant – nor do we want to compete in the future with a potential full-service restaurant right next door.”
The proposed menu includes a $4 breakfast sandwich, a $7 American breakfast, a $5 yogurt, granola, fresh fruit parfait, a $7 City Pier Burger, a $3 Pier Dog, an $8 Cuban sandwich, chicken wings, chicken tenders, clam strips, shrimp, a wedge salad and more. It also includes $2 domestic draft beers, $3 canned beers, $4-5 craft beers and $4-6 glasses of wine.
The menu notes orders could be placed ahead of time by phone.
Regarding the pier bait shop, Seymour said, “We’ll build our own live well. We’re going to stock tackle that we know is going to sell – hooks, line, leader.”
Seymour said the bait offerings would include live shiners, shrimp and pinfish when available. The frozen bait offerings would include shrimp, squid, sardines and sand fleas.
“All the things we currently have – and we have that shop a block away to support that bait shop on the pier,” he said.
In response to questions from Muscatello, Seymour estimated $1.3 to $1.4 million in potential annual gross revenues, and said he planned live acoustic music from 5-8 p.m. and the installation of removable shade sails above the picnic tables and deck area behind the bait shop.
In response to a question from Short, Seymour said he envisions the window facing the shore for ice cream service, the windows facing the Rod & Reel Pier for the snack shop and beer and wine service and the rear window for the bait and tackle sales taking place mostly outside using a handheld point of sale device.
Seymour’s group hopes to have the grill and bait shop open before Thanksgiving. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Carter asked Seymour about staffing. Seymour envisions three to five employees working at any given time and a total staff of 16-20 people, including some current employees who would like to work on the pier.
Seymour said the grill and bait shop would be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in accordance with the commission’s previously expressed desires.
Seymour said he would be the main contact, but Mattay and Graham would also be available.
“We’re not and have never been absentee owners. Our vision for the City Pier is to once again become the number one tourist destination and local destination for Manatee County. We promise to be good stewards of the pier and we’ll work tirelessly with this city,” Seymour said.
Short made the motion to select Seymour’s group. Crane said he was leaning toward Coleman’s group because of Poppo’s food quality and fresh ingredients, but he later supported Short’s motion. Sensing Carter’s support for Seymour’s group, Muscatello said, “To make it unanimous, I’ll say yes.” Carter then made the vote unanimous.
From left, city commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane, Carol Carter and Joe Muscatello said their decision was difficult but their options were excellent. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Final thoughts
“We’re looking forward to partnering with the city and quickly getting this pier back open seven days a week for locals and visitors alike,” Seymour said after the meeting ended.
“My goal is to be open before Thanksgiving if everything goes smoothly,” he said later.
“I’m excited to get this thing going,” Graham said.
“All three of us are excited about the bid we have for that pier and we’re going to make it a great place for everybody to visit,” Mattay said.
On Saturday, Coleman provided the following statement via text message: “We congratulate Brian and his team on their excellent presentation. While we sincerely believe we offered the best short- and long-term proposal for the city and its taxpayers, the commissioners, in their prerogative, selected Brian and his group, whom we respect and have supported for years. We wish them the best.”
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy plans to present city commissioners with a shortlist containing his top two recommended City Pier grill and bait shop bidders on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
During the emergency city commission meeting at 10 a.m., the current four-member commission that consists of Carol Carter, Jon Crane, Joe Muscatello and Mark Short will accept, reject or modify Murphy’s proposed shortlist. Due to her recently announced resignation, Amy Tripp’s commission term officially ends Tuesday and she will not participate in the discussion.
The two commission-approved shortlist candidates that emerge from Tuesday’s meeting will then be given an opportunity at a future meeting to present their lease proposals and plans to operate a takeout grill and bait shop in the city-owned bait shop building at the T-end of the new City Pier.
When those presentations are made, the commissioners will individually rank the two finalists according to their first and second preferences. The individual rankings will then be tallied and Murphy will be authorized to attempt to negotiate a five-year lease with the commission’s top-ranked bidder.
The commission agreed to move forward in this manner during Thursday evening’s regular commission meeting. When recommending the shortlist approach, Murphy did not indicate which two bidders would make his shortlist or whether he had yet made that determination.
The city received four bid proposals in response to its request for proposals (RFP). The RFP sought a grill and bait shop tenant to occupy the bait shop building on the left side of the pier, as viewed from shore. According to the RFP, the bait shop building provides approximately 300 square feet of interior space.
The sealed bids were opened at city hall on Friday, Aug. 21. The names of the bidders were announced, but no additional bid proposal details have been provided to the public. The proposals have been provided to the commissioners for their review.
The city received proposals from:
F.P. Growth Partners, represented by Patrick Coleman, whose business operations include Poppo’s Taqueria locations in Anna Maria and Bradenton;
Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nicholas Graham from The Anna Maria General Store & Deli and Dips Ice Cream in Anna Maria and Graham Slam fishing charters in Cortez;
The father-daughter team of Sherman and Sarah Baldwin, whose Tevatan LLC operates Paradise Boat Tours and Bridge Street Bait Shop in Bradenton Beach and Hart’s Landing in Sarasota; and
Harry’s Continental Kitchens in Longboat Key.
The city is not currently seeking a tenant to operate a full-service restaurant tenant in the larger pier building, whose future use remains undetermined.
On July 30, the commission voted 3-2 to reject the lease proposal submitted by Mike Ross and Ugly Grouper LLC. On Jan. 10, the commission unanimously rejected a lease offer proposed by Mario Schoenfelder, the longtime tenant of the old City Pier, which was closed in 2017 and demolished in 2018.
On June 19, the new City Pier opened on a limited basis and currently remains open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City Pier will be open seven days a week when the grill and bait shop tenant begins business operations.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, city hall capacity remains limited. In-person meeting attendance is allowed, but attendees must wear face coverings. Tuesday’s meeting can also be accessed via teleconferencing by calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering the meeting ID, which is 81286532578.
UPDATED Aug. 22, 2020 – ANNA MARIA – Four local entrepreneurs interested in operating a grill and bait shop on the new City Pier have submitted bid proposals to the city of Anna Maria.
The bid proposals received are in response to the request for proposals (RFP) the city recently issued seeking a tenant to lease the 300-square-foot bait shop building at the T-end of the new pier.
The city seeks a tenant who will operate a takeout grill that offers a limited menu throughout the day in addition to selling bait and possibly offering additional fishing supplies.
The bidders hope to lease the city-owned bait shop building on the Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The deadline to submit a proposal was 1 p.m. on Friday. A few minutes after that deadline passed, Mayor Dan Murphy opened the four bid proposals and announced who submitted them.
The four bidders are F.P. Growth Partners; Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nicholas Graham; Sarah Baldwin/Tevatan LLC and Harry’s Continental Kitchens.
Kim Nemeth, Brian Seymour and Patrick Coleman attended Friday’s bid opening, with Public Works Manager Dean Jones also present. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Patrick Coleman represented F.P. Growth Partners at the public bid opening held at city hall in the city commission chambers. F.P. Growth Partners’ business operations include the Poppo’s Taquerias on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria and on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton.
Seymour is the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store and Deli on Pine Avenue that leases space to Mattay and his Dips Ice Cream shop. Graham is the co-owner and operator of Graham Slam fishing charters in Cortez.
Anna Maria resident Kim Nemeth represented Tevatan LLC. Nemeth is the manager of Paradise Boat Tours and Bridge Street Bait Shop at the foot of the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
Tevatan LLC is led by CEO Sarah Baldwin and her father, Sherman Baldwin, who serves as the LLC’s general manager. Tevatan also operates Hart’s Landing in Sarasota in space leased from that city.
Harry’s Continental Kitchens is located in Longboat Key and was not represented at Friday’s bid opening.
Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar owner Jason Suzor and Star Fish Co. restaurant owner Karen Bell participated in the recent pre-bid meeting but neither submitted a bid proposal.
Murphy said he will now review the four bid proposals that will also be provided to city commissioners. The proposals will not be made public until placed on an agenda for a future city commission meeting or a special city commission meeting to be held within the next 30 days.
When the bid proposals are presented for commission discussion at a public meeting, each commissioner will individually rank the bidders and their proposals according to their personal preferences. One point will be awarded for a commissioner’s first choice, two points will be awarded for a commissioner’s second choice and so on. The bidder and proposal with the lowest combined score will then be given the opportunity to attempt to negotiate a lease contract with Murphy and the city.
According to the RFP, the city reserves the right to discard any or all bids.
During Friday’s bid opening, Murphy said he hopes to have the grill and bait shop open by the first of the year at the latest, and much sooner than that if all goes well.
While seeking a tenant for the bait shop building to the left, the city currently has no plans for the larger building to the right. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city currently has no plans to resume its search for another pier tenant to operate a full-service restaurant in the larger of the two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the new City Pier. At this time, the future use of the larger pier building has not been determined.
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a tenant to lease and operate a takeout grill and bait shop on the new City Pier.
“The city of Anna Maria requests proposals for a tenant to operate a grill and bait shop located on the historic Anna Maria City Pier which shall have a family-friendly and simple takeout style food and beverage service, with fishing bait available,” the RFP says.
Mayor Dan Murphy presented a draft version of the RFP during Friday’s emergency city commission meeting. Additional input from commissioners and potential bidders Sherman Baldwin and Brian Seymour helped produce the revised RFP posted later that day at the city website.
The RFP pertains to the city-owned bait shop building on the left side of the pier’s T-end deck area, as viewed from shore. The RFP does not seek responses to operate a full-service restaurant in the larger city-owned building to the right.
The pier building on the left is being offered for lease as a grill and bait shop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On July 30, the city commission rejected by 3-2 vote the restaurant and bait shop lease proposal for both buildings presented by Ugly Grouper LLC. The pursuit of a full-service restaurant tenant is currently on hold and may or may not be pursued in the future.
A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will take place at city hall on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 10:30 a.m. The pre-bid meeting will provide potential bidders the opportunity to pose questions and learn more about the available space. Monday, Aug. 17 is the deadline to submit written questions. Bid proposals must be submitted prior to the public bid openings at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21.
RFP details
According to the RFP, the grill and bait shop space is approximately 300 square feet, and that is the primary area being offered for lease. As discussed Friday, the RFP also references the possible use of some additional space inside the larger pier building for cold storage, including a walk-in cooler and/or freezer.
The areas shaded in blue are being offered for lease in the new RFP. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The RFP notes the common areas outside the bait shop can be used by the tenant’s customers on a first-come, first-served basis, but those tables and benches cannot be reserved. The common area may also be used for live entertainment subject to city approval.
The RFP states the common areas must be open to the public seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The grill and bait shop is expected to operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but alternative hours could be considered.
During Friday’s meeting, Murphy and the commission agreed the entire pier will close at 10 p.m., or soon thereafter, and remain closed overnight – unlike the old City Pier that remained open around the clock. The commission also supported Commissioner Mark Short’s suggestion to limit the bait shop and grill tenant’s beverage sales to beer, wine and soft drinks.
The RFP offers an initial five-year lease with one five-year extension available at the tenant’s option.
The proposals will be evaluated and independently scored based in part upon the proposed annual rent; the estimated costs of tenant’s buildout and equipment; the limited food and beverage menu and prices, including bait shop offerings; the tenant’s small grill, restaurant and takeout experience; the estimated timeframe to become fully operational and references and verifiable information regarding the bidder’s financial ability to perform.
Regarding the interior buildout of the leased space, the city will provide drywall, flooring, a kitchen hood, a grease trap and interceptor, fire suppression and roughed-in electrical and plumbing, excluding fixtures.
The tenant will provide the fixtures, equipment, painting, finish work and other materials needed to complete the interior buildout – and bidders must provide the estimated cost of their improvements and equipment.
“The tenant is expected to have 45 days to complete the buildout of the grill and bait shop interiors and then open for business,” the RFP says.
The city will clean and maintain the exterior of the leased building and the common area around it. The city will also clean and maintain the public restrooms and maintain and repair the air conditioning and heating units that serve the leased area. In exchange, the tenant will reimburse the city for 10% of those actual cleaning and maintenance costs during the first year of the lease. That percentage will then be reevaluated and negotiated annually.
The tenant will also reimburse the city for 10% of the city’s actual costs to clean and maintain the rest of the pier’s common areas, including the pier platform, the approach area and the parking area. Should the city decide to employ a pier maintenance manager, the tenant may also be required to share up to 10% of the manager’s salary.
Updated Aug. 3, 2020 – ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Commission has rejected Ugly Grouper LLC’s offer to lease the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings on the new City Pier.
Thursday night, the commission voted 3-2 in favor of rejecting the lease offer presented by Mike Ross, co-owner of the Ugly Grouper restaurant in Holmes Beach. The motion made by Commissioner Jon Crane and supported by commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp also terminated those lease discussions and negotiations.
Although they shared many of the same concerns regarding the offer presented, commissioners Joe Muscatello and Mark Short opposed Crane’s motion and supported giving Ross and Mayor Dan Murphy two more weeks to continue their negotiations.
In the wake of the decision, the city’s immediate goal is to find a vendor to operate a bait shop and snack bar, while questions remain regarding the need for a full-service restaurant on the pier.
Ugly Grouper offer
Before Ross presented his offer, Murphy said the commission had four options:
Accept the offer as presented and develop a final lease agreement.
Reject the offer and continue the pursuit of a modified offer.
Reject the offer and terminate the lease negotiations.
Consider the offer, but delay taking any formal action.
Murphy noted the offer Ross was presenting was the result of the fact-finding discussions he and Ross engaged in since mid-May.
“I think we could have the bait shop and snack shop open this fall, with the restaurant right after that,” Ross said during his opening remarks, while participating by phone.
He then read aloud the two-page Ugly Grouper offer previously emailed to Murphy and the commissioners.
The floor plan submitted by Ugly Grouper LLC proposed a total of 162 seats. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The Ugly Grouper offer was accompanied by a floor plan and seating chart that proposed 162 total seats – 72 inside the restaurant, 46 in the covered, open-air breezeway and deck area just outside the restaurant building and eight outdoor bar seats along the side of the bait shop.
The floor plan proposed 36 additional seats in the uncovered common area on the deck behind the bait shop. Ross said that area could include a shade feature to be opened or closed depending on weather conditions.
Although not designated as fishing space, the floor plan indicated approximately 7 feet of mostly open space along the rear and side edges of the T-end deck.
Ross proposed a 10-year lease with four potential 10-year extensions. He proposed paying the city $14,000 per month in base rent – $4,000 less than the $18,000 offered in the group’s original response to the city’s request for proposals (RFP).
Based on an estimate from local builder Frank Agnelli, the Ugly Grouper offer proposed it would cost $1.02 million to complete the interior buildouts of the restaurant and bait shop buildings. Ross proposed the city pay $440,650 of that amount to cover the cost of air conditioning and heating equipment, electrical and plumbing outlets, drywall, flooring and walk-in coolers.
“City either pays Ugly Grouper $440,650 cash or credits Ugly Grouper in free rent for buildout of the restaurant – approximately 2.5 years free rent,” the offer sheet said.
Ross proposed initially paying the city $10,000 or $11,000 a month when business operations commenced and applying the remaining $3,000-$4,000 per month toward the city’s buildout costs.
Ross proposed his group pay 25% of the maintenance and cleaning expenses for the pier and the public restrooms.
Ross requested 64 parking spaces. He said the number of seats were more important than the number of parking spaces.
The Ugly Grouper offer proposed the city carry hazard and property insurance for the pier and pier building exteriors that covered the perils of fire, wind, hurricane damage and loss of income by the tenant. Ross said his group would carry a $1 million general liability policy and an additional liquor liability policy.
Commission response
Carter said the offer Ross presented was “quite different than the one we saw earlier.”
She then said, “Why have you increased the seating to this extent? We were familiar with about half that number previously. I am very concerned with this number of seats. The way you’ve laid them out doesn’t allow for a fishing pier and a public pier. It’s all restaurant,” Carter said.
Commission Chair Carol Carter expressed concerns about the number of seats requested. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Ross said the proposed number of seats would create a “win-win” scenario that provided the revenue needed for the restaurant operations and the rent revenue sought by the city. He also said having less than 150 seats would require a more expensive liquor license that costs $350,000.
Murphy said he thought previous pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder was licensed for 70 to 80 seats.
During the meeting, Ross said he just received a text message confirming that Schoenfelder operated with 120 total seats.
“126 is our ask right now, with 36 public seats,” Ross told the commission.
General Manager Thad Treadwell later told The Sun that Schoenfelder operated with 96 inside seats and 24 outside seats.
On Sunday, Schoenfelder sent Murphy an email disputing those claims.
“TCPR Inc. operated 72 seats inside plus five seats at the bar – total 77 seats inside,” Schoenfelder’s email said.
Schoenfelder told The Sun in an email that he had an additional 25 outdoor seats, for a total of 102 seats.
During Thursday’s meeting, Ross said he was open to crunching the numbers to see what could be accomplished with fewer seats. He asked the commission if there was a hard line on the number of seats, but that number was not provided.
Tripp said the city carrying an insurance policy that covered the tenant’s loss of income did not sit well with her. Muscatello suggested it would be expensive and consume a significant portion of the city’s rent revenues.
Short compared the negotiations to buying a car and said, “The dealer tells you X, you come with Y and there’s some back and forth.”
Regarding the offer presented, Short said, “Are there surprises? Certainly, there are a lot of surprises. I’ve also heard a willingness to continue discussions to try to hone in and deal with some of the things I think we all have concerns about.”
Muscatello supported allowing the negotiations to continue for two more weeks, but he also questioned the need for a pier restaurant. He suggested that space might be better used for educational purposes by partnering with Mote Marine.
Public input
During public input, Bob Carter said the city already invested millions of dollars in the new pier and the RFP stated the pier tenant would be provided with empty shells that included roughed-in plumbing and electrical.
Carter shared his wife’s concerns about the additional seating. He said the pier is a public space to be shared by visitors, people fishing and restaurant patrons.
“When I looked at this plan, it looks like we built this for a restaurant,” Carter said, noting he’d be happy with a restaurant that only had a beer and wine license. “I urge the city not to accept this as is.”
The Ugly Grouper floor plan proposed that 36 additional seats be placed on the deck area behind the bait shop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Former City Commissioner Doug Copeland participated in much of the pier replacement decisionmaking that occurred before he left office in December.
“I’m very disappointed,” Copeland said of the offer presented.
Copeland said the offer did not reflect what was proposed in the group’s original RFP response. He noted the RFP plainly stated the pier tenant was responsible for the interior buildouts and he encouraged the commission to reject the offer.
Post-meeting comments
After the meeting, Murphy commented on the commission’s decision.
“I support the commission’s decision because I think at some point in the future the city will be in a better position to rent that space out. Financially, we’re in good shape. We reconstructed that pier debt-free. That pier is totally paid for. If we had debt with that pier it would be a completely different picture. I think this presents an opportunity for the city to look at other alternatives,” he said.
“I think it was made clear that we don’t need to have a restaurant. But we do need something, and we need it quickly,” Murphy said regarding a bait shop and snack shop that offers a limited menu. “I’m going to pursue that vigorously.”
On Friday, Treadwell provided a statement.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the commission and Mayor Murphy on this project to reopen the Anna Maria City Pier bait shop and restaurant. We are disappointed we weren’t able to extend negotiations another week to clear up some miscommunications to try to reach an agreeable deal and open this fall. We are excited to see the historic City Pier reopen and will support whoever the new tenant will be,” Treadwell said.
Friday evening, Murphy sent commissioners an email regarding the pursuit of a bait shop/snack shop vendor.
Mayor Dan Murphy is now in the process of preparing an RFP for a bait shop/snack shop operator. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“As a result of our meeting last night, I was given direction to explore the provision of takeout food and beverage service from the bait-shop/snack bar on the City Pier. Accordingly, we are in the process of preparing an RFP to solicit bids for that type of service. This should be finalized and ready for your review in the next seven to 10 days, or less,” Murphy wrote.
“Since our meeting last night, four local restaurateurs have contacted the city and expressed a keen interest in providing takeout food and beverage service from the bait shop facility. Our intent is to solicit bids from any and all interested parties once the RFP is prepared and approved. In the meantime, please send any of your concerns, ideas or points of interest which you would like included in the RFP,” Murphy wrote.
ANNA MARIA – Smoking is now prohibited on the new Anna Maria City Pier.
Dogs, bicycles and alcohol were already prohibited on the pier, and these new and existing prohibitions are being addressed with new signage.
The Anna Maria City Commission initiated the smoking ban on Thursday, June 25 after Mayor Dan Murphy noted smoking was not currently prohibited on the new City Pier.
“We made a punch list of about 16 items that need to be corrected. I think the first thing that came to mind was the fact that we have allowed smoking on the pier. What we’ve noticed is there were cigarette butts put out on the IPE wood (the pier decking), cigarette butts put out on the benches and on the picnic tables and butts thrown in the bay,” Murphy told the commission.
“Not many venues allow smoking anymore. It’s kind of a thing of the past. Do we want to allow smoking on the pier or make it a non-smoking pier? I’m recommending that we make it non-smoking,” Murphy said.
Commission Chair Carol Carter said the pier restaurant and the T-end deck area outside the restaurant and bait shop should be non-smoking areas.
Commissioner Amy Tripp asked if people would still be allowed to smoke under the covered entrance to the pier.
The commission considered allowing smoking at the pier entryway, but Commissioner Joe Muscatello noted families often gather there. He proposed the entry area also be designated as a no-smoking zone.
Murphy said people can still smoke in the parking area or along the boardwalk that leads to the pier entrance.
The commission reached unanimous consensus to make the entire pier area a non-smoking zone.
Murphy also addressed some of the other items on the new pier punch list. He said cleats and bumpers need to be installed at the boat landing area on the southeast side of the pier.
“There should be no dogs and no bicycles,” Murphy said.
He said dogs and bikes were already prohibited in the pier ordinance, but those prohibitions need to be clarified with some additional signage placed at the entry to the pier. There are also two sheriff’s deputies stationed on and near the pier each day the pier is open.
Murphy said the public restrooms at the end of the pier need some additional signage.
He said fish cutting stations need to be installed and the existing fish cleaning station will be expanded and improved.
Murphy said that with the assistance of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, a bulletin board will be placed in the breezeway between the new pier buildings. The bulletin board will contain photographs of the old historic pier that was replaced by the new pier. Murphy said the Historical Society also offered to share photographs to place in the restrooms.
Commissioner Tripp expressed hope that the future pier tenant will continue the historic pier theme when completing the inside of the new restaurant building.
Murphy said the wooden pier decking still needs to be oiled and that will be done in 300-foot sections.
He said City Clerk LeAnne Addy is researching shade sails to install above the picnic tables at the T-end of the pier.
The new City Pier opened with a soft, non-ceremonial opening on Friday, June 19. A more ceremonial grand opening ceremony will be conducted at a future date.
The new pier is currently open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The pier is currently closed Mondays through Thursdays. The weekday closures provide time for the punch list items to be addressed.
Murphy said he wants to maintain the current pier hours at least through the Fourth of July weekend, but he would like to open the pier for sunsets in the near future.
A makeshift sign posted on the podium at the foot of the pier notes face masks are optional.
ANNA MARIA – The new $6.8 million Anna Maria City Pier opened Friday morning at 8 a.m. when 6-year-old Sadie Agnelli swung open the gate at the foot of the pier.
The new pier is now open on a limited basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For now, the pier will be closed Monday through Thursday. The weekday closures will allow time to complete any needed final touch-ups and will also provide the new pier tenant time to begin the interior buildouts of the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy is currently engaged in lease negotiations with Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross and General Manager Thad Treadwell. Murphy recently said he expects a proposed long-term lease for the restaurant and bait shop buildings to be presented to the city commission in July. Once a lease is finalized, the interior buildouts can commence. The restaurant and bait shop are expected to open later this year or early next year.
Six-year-old Sadie Agnelli opened the gate to the new City Pier Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Sadie Agnelli is the daughter of Frank Agnelli, the Anna Maria contractor whose Mason Martin Builders built the new restaurant and bait shop buildings, and also the benches and tables that grace the new pier. Tampa-based i+iconSoutheast built the main pier structure that includes the pier walkway and the T-end platform.
The pier replacement project received significant funding assistance from Manatee County, the state of Florida and FEMA.
Speeler & Associates began demolishing the old pier in July 2018 and i+iconSoutheast drove the first pilings for the new pier in February 2019. The old City Pier closed in September 2017 due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma. At the time, the aging pier was already in need of significant rehabilitation.
Opening day
Before his daughter opened the gate, Frank Agnelli said, “I’m happy to see it finished. It looks really good and it feels good to be a part of the Island’s history.”
He and Sadie were then the first visitors to set foot on the new pier Friday morning.
Frank and Sadie Agnelli were the first members of the public to walk onto to the new City Pier Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Palmetto resident Alexander Barthalis was the first fisherman on the new pier.
“It feels great. I was waiting for this moment for almost three years. I’ve been coming here for the past 15 years and I was devastated when the hurricane damaged this. I hope I can come here for another 20 years,” he said.
Alexander Barthalis, left, was the first fisherman on the new City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Barthalis was joined at the T-end of the pier by 15-year-old Palmetto fisherman Donavan Dolan, 13-year-old Joseph Dolan and their dad, Daniel Dolan. Within minutes, Joseph Dolan caught a small red snapper and the mayor congratulated him for being the first to catch a fish on the new pier.
13-year-old Joseph Dolan, center, was the first to catch a fish on the new City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Standing nearby, Bradenton resident Jeff Higgins said, “I’m psyched. It’s been awhile. As I was walking out it almost didn’t feel like it had been three years. It feels normal coming back out on the pier.”
Anna Maria resident Bob Carter said, “This is an exciting day we’ve all been waiting for. To see this new pier as beautiful as it is and in the same footprint is like the old pier being brought back to life. Congratulations to the mayor, the commissioners and the people who were patient enough to let it be done.”
City Commission Chair Carol Carter said, “It’s a red-letter day for us. It’s been almost three years of anticipation. It’s a lovely up-to-date rendition of the old pier and it means a lot to the city, particularly the businesses. As the mayor has said, the pier is the hub of our city and it symbolizes our sense of community.”
Murphy has guided the pier replacement project every step of the way.
“I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to have this pier open. This has been such a long time coming. I look at all the hurdles we’ve been through to bring it to this point and I’m pleased that we are where we are,” he said.
When asked if he felt a sense of relief, the mayor said, “Yes, but there’s a few miles to go. We’ve got to get a restaurant out here and we’ve got to get the bait shop open. What I feel the best about is that the residents of our city can come out and enjoy this pier. And this will help the businesses on Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive. They can maybe breathe a sigh of relief now that Manatee County’s number one attraction is open again.”
West Virginia visitor Laura Sommer and her eight-month-old granddaughter Vivian Rossignol strolled the new pier Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It exceeded my expectations. This is gorgeous. It’s authentic looking and it’s solid. The pier means a lot to the city – it’s a fishing pier and it’s also a community connector,” Commissioner Amy Tripp said.
Tripp praised the quality of work and attention to detail paid by all involved in the project.
Former Commissioner Doug Copeland said, “It’s worth every penny to have what we ended up with.”
“It feels amazing and there’s a huge sense of relief,” City Clerk LeAnne Addy said.
“It’s an exciting day for the city and all of Anna Maria Island. It’s an absolutely beautiful pier,” Deputy City Clerk Debbie Haynes said.
“I’m ecstatic. Everybody did just a great job and this is a momentous occasion,” Public Works Manager Dean Jones said.
The new pier restrooms have an elegant touch. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I think it turned out terrific and the bathrooms are like a luxury hotel,” Anna Maria resident Jack Brennan said.
Brian Blaine used to tend bar in the old pier bait shop and hopes to return when the new bait shop opens.
“It’s beautiful,” he said of the new pier. “I hope for great things and hopefully I’ll be an asset.”
Former bait shop bartender Brian Blaine hopes to return to the job he loved so much. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Updated June 18 at 11:45 p.m. ANNA MARIA – The new Anna Maria City Pier will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 19, and Mayor Dan Murphy and city Commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp will be among those on hand to greet the first pier visitors.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Friday’s pier opening will be a soft opening with no ribbon-cutting ceremony and no invited special guests. A more celebratory grand opening ceremony will take place at a future date.
For starters, the new City Pier will be open on a limited basis on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The pier will remain closed Monday through Thursday and signs will be posted near the pier regarding the limited visitation hours.
“It’s a nice-looking pier and you’re going to be proud of it when you go out there,” Murphy said during the Thursday, June 11 city commission meeting.
“We can expand the hours. This is just temporary,” he said of the initial pier visitation restrictions.
Murphy said the limited visitation hours take into account three factors: the COVID-19 pandemic, the final touch-up work still taking place on the pier and the possibility that the future restaurant and bait shop tenant may soon want to begin the interior buildouts of those city-owned pier buildings.
“It’s a nice-looking pier and you’re going to be proud of it when you go out there.” – Dan Murphy, Anna Maria Mayor
Murphy said there will be one sheriff’s deputy stationed on the pier and another deputy stationed on shore while the pier is open. He said the deputies will use their best judgment as to how many people are allowed on the pier at a time.
Pier lease negotiations
During last week’s meeting, Murphy told the commission his ongoing fact-finding discussions with Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross are going well.
“We’re to the point now where we’re discussing the maintenance options, who’s going to do what,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he expects Ross to come before the commission in late June or early July with a formal lease proposal.
Pier lease settlement
During last week’s meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose said the settlement discussions with current and soon-to-be former pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder and his attorney have been cordial and remain ongoing, but a proposed settlement figure has not yet been reached.
Schoenfelder recently requested a $65,000 settlement to terminate early his current lease for the old City Pier that expires on Dec. 15. Vose was recently authorized to try to negotiate a lower settlement figure. She told the commission she does not yet have a revised settlement figure to present for commission consideration.
ANNA MARIA – Current City Pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder is requesting a $65,000 settlement in exchange for the early termination of his pier lease agreement that expires Dec. 15.
In response to Schoenfelder’s request, the city commission authorized City Attorney Becky Vose to attempt to negotiate a more favorable settlement for the city.
Meanwhile, Mayor Dan Murphy is attempting to negotiate a new long-term pier lease with Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross and General Manager Thad Treadwell.
Vose, Murphy and the commissioners discussed Schoenfelder’s request on Thursday, May 28.
Murphy referenced two letters that attorney Lori Dorman sent the city on behalf of Schoenfelder and his company, TCPR Inc. Those letters pertain to the lease Schoenfelder and the city signed in 2000 and later extended.
“All of you have been provided with Mr. Schoenfelder’s letter of March 27, where he demanded to have the pier back so that he could operate a restaurant. And then his subsequent letter of May 21st, where he said he didn’t want the restaurant back, but now he would like $65,000,” Murphy said.
In her May 21 letter, Dorman wrote, “TCPR is willing to enter into an early termination of the lease. In return, TCPR expects the city to compensate it in the amount of $65,000. This amount represents a portion of the lost income TCPR has incurred as a result of the city’s delays.”
Hurricane Irma ripped the roof off the old bait shop in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding that letter, Murphy said, “His contention is that since we didn’t have insurance of the pier – since we were self-insured – that we could have rebuilt the pier a lot quicker with insurance, and thus the lost revenue. Never once was the pier construction held up as a result of not having funding.”
Murphy said it took more than a year to get permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and several other permitting agencies. During that time, the city secured project funds from FEMA, Manatee County tourist taxes and the state.
Murphy said the request for proposals process created additional delays, as did two tropical storms and a construction barge crashing into the pier.
“The money was never an issue,” Murphy said.
Murphy provided the commission with three options.
“We can pay the ransom of $65,000 and move on, or we can authorize our city attorney to attempt to negotiate a settlement outside of litigation, or we could proceed with the buildout. We could turn the pier over to him as he requested in his March 27th letter and begin charging him rent. The Ugly Grouper is more than willing to work with us on any one of these three alternatives,” he told the commission.
Murphy said the Ugly Grouper representatives are willing to wait until mid-December to take occupancy of the pier buildings if necessary.
Murphy said a court battle would cost the city money even if the city prevailed and he recommended authorizing Vose to attempt to negotiate a settlement instead.
“If that fails, then we can move on to option three, complete the buildout and begin charging rent,” Murphy said.
“Have our city attorney try to negotiate a settlement and let’s move on,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello said.
“Option two is the most appealing one to me, although I do feel we need to defend our city against this. I don’t think there’s the evidence that he claims in these letters that he’s been harmed because of anything the city has done,” Commissioner Amy Tripp said.
“We’ve got a new concessionaire, we’re ready to negotiate with them. Let’s get this behind us. I trust attorney Vose to put a good faith offer in front of Mario’s attorneys. And if they don’t accept it, I think we can win the lawsuit. But I’d rather not, I’d rather get it behind us,” Commissioner Jon Crane said.
Commissioner Mark Short said he’s read Schoenfelder’s lease several times.
“There’s nothing in the lease agreement that says the city was required to insure the entire pier. The whole premise of not having insurance is moot. With respect to repairs being done in the event of a casualty, the tenant is also partially responsible to conduct repairs on certain portions of the leased premises should a casualty occur, which obviously did,” Short said.
Murphy ordered the old pier and pier buildings closed in September 2017 after Hurricane Irma removed a large portion of the bait shop roof, damaged the restaurant building roof and damaged much of the old pier’s T-end decking.
Wave action associated with Hurricane Irma displaced the old pier decking in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The lease agreement specifically calls out that if a casualty occurs the tenant’s sole remedy is limited to the abatement of rent, which is what the city has done,” Short said.
Schoenfelder made his last $11,898 monthly rent payment on Sept. 6, 2017.
Short said the city attorney should attempt to negotiate a settlement agreement that factors in these lease terms not referenced in Dorman’s letters.
Vose said she agreed with Short’s interpretation of Schoenfelder’s lease.
ANNA MARIA – The soft opening of the new Anna Maria City Pier is scheduled for Friday, June 19.
Mayor Dan Murphy proposed the soft opening to city commissioners on Thursday, May 28 and the commission provided unanimous consensus support.
Murphy expects the final inspections of the new pier to be completed between June 8 and June 12. This leaves an additional week to address any remaining issues and prepare for the pier opening on June 19.
Initially, the pier will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The pier will initially remain closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Murphy is in the preliminary stages of discussing and then negotiating a long-term lease agreement for the use of the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings. Those ongoing lease discussions are taking place with Ugly Grouper LLC, which is represented by Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross and General Manager Thad Treadwell.
Murphy said not having a new pier tenant in place when the pier opens creates the need for two off-duty deputies to serve as security guards while the pier is open. He said one deputy would be on the shore and one would be on the pier.
“The pier would be open for visitors, sightseers and fishing. Social distancing would be required and there are signs that will be posted on the pier. We would recommend no alcohol beverages be allowed on the pier, but fishermen would be allowed to bring their coolers,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the initial Monday-Thursday pier closures will allow the new pier tenant to begin the interior buildouts of the city-owned buildings without the public being on the pier.
“I agree with your idea of a soft opening, with the possibility of closing it right back up if there are a lot of problems. We might as well give it a shot,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello said.
“I am one of those people that believes we’re not out of the woods on the virus yet, so the social distancing caveat is important to me, but I think it’s a good step forward,” Commissioner Jon Crane said.
Commissioner Mark Short agreed with the soft opening approach and asked for more clarification as to why the pier will be closed at 5 p.m. three days a week and closed entirely for four days a week.
“One is economics. It’s expensive to put security guards on the pier,” Murphy said, noting
the need to prevent vandalism and monitor pier user behavior.
“Secondly, I would anticipate that we might be working on the buildouts soon. We would have people on the pier working and I don’t think it’s a good situation to have workmen carrying tools, equipment and materials while there’s people on the pier,” Murphy said.
The new City Pier replaces the old pier that was closed in September 2017 due in part to damage the pier and pier buildings sustained during Hurricane Irma.
Lease discussions
Murphy told the commission he’d already conducted one fact-finding meeting with Ross and Treadwell, and was conducting another the following morning and a third and final fact-finding meeting this week.
Murphy said each meeting features discussion on five of the 15 key lease considerations included in the meeting packets. Those considerations include determining when the new lease commences, defining the scope of business to be conducted, the seating, the meals to be served and discussing the potential lease of additional common areas.
The lease considerations include the tenant’s buildout plan, parking provisions, signs, naming rights, the shared maintenance of the common areas, insurance, tax and utilities responsibilities and the monthly base rent and/or percentage-based rent to be paid to the city.
“Things are really going well thus far. Mr. Ross and Mr. Treadwell are very excited about reaching an agreement,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he expects the formal pier lease negotiations to come before the commission during the third week of June.
