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Future use of the City Pier buildings discussed 

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

 ANNA MARIA – The city hosted a town hall meeting regarding the future use of the City Pier building previously occupied by Mote Marine. 

Many who spoke during Tuesday, Jan. 27, meeting would like to see a full-service, sit-down restaurant on the pier. 

Mayor Mark Short scheduled the town hall meeting because he and the city commission wanted to hear what the public wants to see in the hurricane-impacted pier space vacated by Mote Marine. The building previously occupied by Mote Marine is the larger of the two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the pier. 

Anna Maria General Store owner/operator Brian Seymour and his business partners hold the lease on the smaller pier building from which they operated The City Pier Grill & Bait Shop from 2020 until Hurricane Milton ripped away the City Pier walkway in October 2024. The smaller pier building does not provide space for indoor seating. 

The City Pier Grill & Bait Shop operated from the smaller building from 2020 until the 2024 hurricanes struck. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Before opening the town hall meeting up for public input, Mayor Mark Short said the pier replacement project that includes the construction of a new pier walkway and also includes repairs and remediation to the hurricane-impacted pier buildings and the replacement of utility lines and other infrastructure needs is now estimated cost between $7.1 million to $7.8 million. 

Short said that cost estimate doesn’t include the higher amperage power supply and the interior buildout that might be needed to operate a larger, full-service restaurant on the pier.

Short said his goal is to have the City Pier fully reopened at some point this fall.

Short said the county’s desire to install a Gulf Islands Ferry landing alongside the new City Pier walkway to accommodate the larger, partially enclosed 96-passenger ferry boat (Manatee Belle) the county could result in 90 passengers getting off the boat and 90 more passengers waiting to board the boat at the same time and that too would impact the future use of the pier buildings.

Short said he doesn’t want the City Pier to become exclusively used as a staging area for the county’s ferry passengers and he wants the pier to remain available to all users. 

Commissioner John Lynch said he believes the mayor and commission are embracing the county’s ferry service but there are “critical issues” that need to be addressed regarding the flow of all those additional people on the pier.

Short said he and the commission need to have a pretty good sense of how the pier buildings will be used before the pier walkway is fully constructed and completed by March 31. 

PUBLIC INPUT

Short asked that one town hall attendee at a time come forward at a time to suggest a potential use of the pier building to be discussed before another potential use was suggested. 

Speaking first, Anna Maria resident Amir Banaly said he’d like to see the larger pier building used as a coffee shop. 

“I think it’s very simple to accommodate and accomplish without any changes,” he said.

Anna Maria resident Janis Ian suggested a coffee stand with one or two New York City-style hotdog carts. 

“I think a hot dog cart on the pier would look cool,” Ian said.

Janis Ian shared her views on the future use of the larger pier building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

She also encouraged the mayor and commission not to be held hostage by the county regarding the impacts a larger ferry boat would have on the pier operations.

Seymour suggested an operation similar to what former pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder did until Hurricane Irma closed the previous pier in 2017. Schoenfelder operated the City Pier Restaurant in the larger pier building and a bait shop and draft beer bar in the smaller building. 

Seymour said he and his business partners still have 15 months remaining on the hurricane-suspended lease that was scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025. He said he and his partners also have the option to lease the pier for five more years beyond the remaining 15 months that will resume when the pier reopens. 

Brian Seymour expressed interest in leasing both city-owned pier buildings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Seymour said it may not make sense for him to resume his City Pier Grill operations in the small building only. He said he would be interested in leasing both pier buildings to operate a sit-down restaurant in the large building and use the smaller building as a bait shop that serves draft pier and provides additional storage space. 

Anna Maria resident Cory Jackson said he’s president of Anna Maria Beach Cottages and his rental guests tell him they would like a to see a sit-down restaurant on the pier again.

“I think it’s very critical that we have a restaurant,” Jackson said.

Anna Maria resident and planning and zoning board member Jeff Rodencal suggested revisiting a previously discarded idea to install a stand-alone ferry landing between the pier walkway and the Lake La Vista jetty and he encouraged the commission to consider not landing all the ferry passengers on the City Pier at all. 

No decisions were made during the town hall meeting and the future use of the City Pier buildings will remain an ongoing topic of conversation for the mayor and commission until some decisions are made.

Mote Marine’s City Pier lease terminated

Mote Marine’s City Pier lease terminated

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria and the Sarasota-based Mote Marine Laboratory mutually agreed to terminate the lease agreement that allowed Mote’s Marine Education, Science & Outreach Center to operate rent-free on the City Pier before the pier walkway was destroyed by Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

City commissioners unanimously approved the lease termination on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Mote Marine’s City Pier lease terminated
Charlotte and Jocelyn Bitner, from Orlando, touched a live horseshoe crab when Mote’s Marine Education, Science & Outreach Center opened on May 5, 2023. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Featuring a touch tank containing live marine life and other live and virtual educational exhibits, the pier-based Mote facility opened in May 2023 and occupied the larger of the two city-owned pier buildings at the T-end of the pier until Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck.

Tampa Bay Marine is cur­rently constructing the new pier walkway to be completed by March 31 and most of the solid concrete pier pilings are already driven. Mayor Mark Short anticipates the City Pier fully reopening this fall.

Mote Marine’s City Pier lease terminated
On Thursday, Jan. 8, the Tampa Bay Marine crew was preparing to begin driving the pier pilings closest to the shore. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The smaller pier building on the northwest end of the pier has been emptied of its contents but remains leased to Anna Maria General Store owner Brian Seymour and his business partners, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham. Operating as GSM Partners LLC, the trio opened their City Pier Grill & Bait Shop in December 2020.

Both city-owned pier buildings remain inaccessible to foot traffic until the new walkway is completed.

Lease terminated

When presenting the termination request, Short said, “Over the past several months, we have been in discussions with Mote regarding their existing lease. Through those discussions, as well as conversations with county commissioners, the county administrator and the TDC (Tourist Development Council), we are all in mutual agreement that it makes sense to terminate the Mote lease. It’s a mutual termination of the lease.”

When asked how the city will conduct its search for a new tenant to occupy the larger pier building, Short said a public meeting in Janu­ary or early February will be held to solicit city commission input on how to proceed with that search. Short said he’d also confer with the city’s con­tracted engineering firm and Tampa Bay Marine regarding any structural improvements needed to accommodate a different use of the vacant pier building.

When Commission Chair Charlie Salem sought a motion to terminate Mote’s lease agreement, Commis­sioner Gary McMullen said, “I happily move to approve that.”

The commission then voted 5-0 in favor of the termination.

 Letter to mote

The Jan. 8 agenda packet includes the termination letter to be sent to Mote President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby for his co-signature.

Short’s letter to Crosby began by expressing the city’s ap­preciation and gratitude for the partnership with Mote Marine.

“As you are aware, the two hurricanes in 2024 caused extensive damage to the pier, including destruction of the walkway leading to the outreach center and the loss of all mechanical infrastruc­ture. In addition, all fixtures and furnishings have been removed to allow the city to properly remediate and make repairs to the buildings,” the letter says.

“In addition, Manatee County is planning to bring an expanded ferry service directly to the pier, which will significantly increase foot traffic on the pier and has raised concern regarding visi­tor flow, safety and long-term best use of this space.

“In light of these changed circumstances, the city of Anna Maria would like to revisit our agreement regarding the outreach center. The city proposes mutually terminating the lease agree­ment which would allow both the city and Mote to move forward with their respective priorities,” the letter says.

 Lease negotiation timeline

The original wooden City Pier was built 1911 and frequented by the steamboats and other vessels that trans­ported people and supplies to and from Anna Maria Island.

The current pier buildings were part of the previous pier construction project completed in 2020 after Hurricane Irma damaged the existing wooden pier in 2017.

In January 2020, the city commission rejected longtime City Pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder’s offer to lease the new pier buildings. In May 2020, Holmes Beach-based restauranteur Sean Murphy withdrew his offer to lease the pier space to operate a restaurant. Murphy withdrew his offer days after the com­mission voted 4-1 to authorize Mayor Dan Murphy to begin lease negotiations with Sean Murphy.

In August 2020, the com­mission voted 3-2 to reject the lease proposal received from the owners of the Ugly Grouper restaurant in Holmes Beach.

In September 2020, the commission voted 4-0 to authorize Mayor Murphy to begin lease negotiations with Seymour and his partners. The grill and bait shop then opened that December. The group’s initial five-year lease was scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2025. After the hurricanes, the monthly lease payments were suspended until the pier reopens and the lease expiration date has been extended to account for the time lost because of the hurricanes.

When his discussing his lease with Short and the city commission last June, Seymour expressed interest in renegotiating the lease terms before reoccupying the smaller pier building and extending the lease for five more years.

In September 2021, the city commission voted 4-1 to approve the 10-year, rent-free lease agreement with Mote. Commissioners Carol Carter, Doug Copeland, Jon Crane and Deanie Sebring supported the Mote agreement and Short, a city commissioner at the time, opposed it.

“I don’t think having Mote on the pier is a bad thing. Although, to be honest, I’m not necessarily convinced it’s the best thing,” Short said at the time.

Short felt the pier building should have been occupied by a restaurant operator.

After numerous delays and missed deadlines, the Mote outreach center opened on May 5, 2023.

Mote Marine’s City Pier lease terminated
County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Mayor Dan Murphy and Mote Marine’s Dr. Michael Crosby cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of Mote’s Marine Education, Science & Outreach Center in May 2023. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Related coverage:
Mote Marine Science, Education & Outreach Center opens
Anna Maria and Mote Marine reach pier lease agreement
City Pier buildings emptied

City Pier buildings emptied

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The hurricane-damaged contents of the city-owned buildings at the T-end of the City Pier have been removed.

The content removal is the first step of cleaning, remedi­ating and repairing the pier spaces leased to The City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education & Outreach Center.

During the Oct. 23 city commission meeting, Mayor Mark Short provided a recap of the content removal efforts that began on Oct. 21 using a barge, as the pier is otherwise inacces­sible without its walkway. Short and city staff provided com­missioners with photos of the two interior pier spaces as and after the contents and some of the hurricane-related mud and muck were removed. Short said mold is present in the buildings as well and that will also have to be remediated.

During a previous city commission meeting, Short said Mote Marine had not yet informed him as to whether or not the Mote facility will return to the pier space provided rent-free by the city. Earlier this year, City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour said he and his business partners hope to return to the pier if an extended lease can be negotiated to include some additional modifications they are requesting.

During the Oct. 23 meeting, Short said the repair and remediation work for the T-end buildings will occur simultaneously with the construction of the new City Pier walkway to be built by Tampa Bay Marine Inc.

Short said he was told the first solid concrete pilings are expected to arrive on Nov. 3, weather permitting, and the first batch of pilings will be installed and then tested upon delivery.

City Pier buildings emptied
The exhibit tanks and other contents were removed from the Mote Marine building. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if any of the pier building contents were salvageable. Short said that’s up to the pier tenants to determine and the contents were delivered by barge to a nearby marina for the tenants to inspect and relocate or discard.

Salem asked if the pier buildings remain structurally sound. Short said he didn’t see any signs of structural unsoundness but the drywall, ceiling tiles and some of the other interior elements require replacement.

In response to another question from Salem, Short said nothing he saw during his Oct. 21 visit led him to believe the previous estimate of approximately $800,000 to remediate and repair the T-end buildings will increase.

Short recently told com­missioners the total City Pier replacement project cost is now expected to be between $6.2 million and $6.9 million, including the $4.64 million walkway replacement contract with Tampa Bay Marine.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Pier fared well during Hurricane Helene, but Hurricane Milton erased a large chunk of the pier walkway.

According to Mayor Dan Murphy, the remaining portion of the pier walkway will remain closed until the pier is fully restored, which could take several months. The T-end pier buildings occupied by the City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center will also remain closed until the restored pier reopens.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
Hurricane Milton took out a lengthy section of the Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Gone too is the T-end boat landing utilized by Manatee County’s Gulf Island Ferry service, but a temporary floating dock and ferry landing has already been installed near the Lake La Vista jetty entrance.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
The ferry landing walkway construction was well underway late Tuesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

This is the second time in seven years that the City Pier has been badly damaged by a hurricane. In 2017, Hurricane Irma inflicted major damage on the old City Pier, which included ripping the roof off the old bait shop building. The pier remained closed until the new City Pier opened in 2020 at a cost of $7.3 million. Four years later, the city finds itself in a somewhat similar situation.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
The City Pier looked like this the morning after Hurricane Irma in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
The new City Pier opened in June of 2020. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During an emergency meeting on Oct. 17, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria commission discussed the City Pier damage, restoration efforts and the temporary ferry landing.

Pier damage

Murphy said 75-100 yards of the pier walkway and dozens of concrete pilings are missing, as are the utility lines and conduits that service the pier buildings. He noted many of the concrete pilings which were driven 40 feet deep snapped off during Hurricane Milton. He suspects this was the work of a waterspout or a tornado. He bases his theory partially on the circular debris field in which some of the pier walkway landed north of the pier and some landed south of the pier. Hurricane Milton also destroyed what remained of the nearby Rod & Reel Pier after Hurricane Helene.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
Some of the City Pier decking landed north of the pier walkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said the pier walkway is the weak point of the pier because it’s supported by wood bents and support beams, whereas the T-end of the pier features a concrete deck and concrete support bents. Murphy said the T-end of the pier weathered both storms virtually unscathed other than some water intrusion and some minor damage to the exterior siding of the pier buildings.

Murphy said the city is already in the process of getting damage and repair assessments from engineering firms with pier expertise.

Murphy estimated the repair costs could be in the $3 million range. He did not venture a guess as to how long the repairs might take because the repair and restoration efforts will be partially dependent on the availability of the needed materials and contractors. Murphy expects to receive a combination of federal, state and/or county funds to help pay for the pier repairs.

Pier tenant

During the Oct. 17 meeting, pier tenant and City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour said he’s already laid off all 15 of his City Pier employees. His monthly lease payments to the city are suspended until the pier reopens. His original five-year lease with the city expires Dec. 31, 2025. He and his business partners have the option to renew the lease for five more years.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
The City Pier buildings remain closed for the foreseeable future. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In addition to the temporary ferry landing, Seymour suggested the city commission give future consideration to assisting the nearby business that will be impacted by another lengthy pier closure – and that might possibly include a City Pier Grill food truck operating in the pier parking lot.

Ferry landing

During the Oct. 17 meeting, the city commission adopted a resolution that approves and establishes the parameters for the county’s temporary floating dock operations near the entrance to the La Lake Vista jetty, just north of the City Pier.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
Anchored by spud poles, this barge will serve as a temporary ferry landing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The resolution allows the county to operate a temporary ferry landing for six months with further extensions possible pending additional city commission approval. At the request of the commission, the resolution allows other vessels to access the floating dock. Those vessels cannot impede the ferry service or be left at the dock unattended.

The temporary ferry landing consists of a large barge held in place by metal spud poles that extend downward from the barge, 20-30 feet into the submerged land below. The barge arrived Monday. By late Tuesday afternoon, the positioning of the barge and the installation of the wooden walkway and metal gangway that connect to the shoreline was nearly complete.

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
A metal gangplank and a wooden walkway connect the temporary landing to the shoreline. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
The temporary ferry landing walkway looked like this late Thursday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The temporary ferry landing is located within walking distance of the restaurants, retail shops and other businesses on and around Pine Avenue. It’s also close to an Island Trolley stop from which ferry passengers can travel to other Anna Maria Island destinations free of charge.

Speaking by phone Tuesday afternoon, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione discussed the temporary dock and the resumption of the Gulf Island Ferry service.

“The objective is to start service sometime next week (Friday, Nov. 1) for the residents that live on the Island and the employees that work on the Island. We’re aware that some people lost their cars in the hurricanes and we’re going to waive the ferry fees until further notice because of the situation. We feel this is a good opportunity to serve our community until people get back on their feet. I don’t know if there’s going to be demand for this, so we’re going to take it one week at a time,” Falcione said.

Falcione said he’s also been in contact with Bradenton Beach officials who plan to get the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach City Pier operational to resume ferry service as soon as possible.

On Oct. 17, the city-affiliated Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency authorized spending up to $350,000 to repair the hurricane-damaged floating dock and finger docks. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the hope is to have the floating dock repaired by the end of October.

For ferry service updates and scheduling information, please visit the Gulf Island Ferry website.

Related coverage:
City Pier Grill operator discusses pier damage
Parents reunited with Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque
Rod and Reel Pier owner hopes to rebuild

City Pier Grill operator discusses damage, recovery

City Pier Grill operator discusses pier damage

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Restaurants | Bars.

ANNA MARIA – A few days after Hurricane Milton struck Anna Maria Island, City Pier Grill operator and pier tenant Brian Seymour and his sister, Rebecca, dropped by to view the damage.

During that Oct. 12 visit, Seymour addressed the immediate impacts and future challenges presented by the hurricane ripping away at least 75 yards of the pier walkway and leaving the leased City Pier Grill building and the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center stranded at the T-end of the pier with no walkway access.

“My immediate thoughts are I’m devastated for my employees and staff who it appears aren’t going to have the ability to work out here for at least six months,” he said. “As a business, we can pause everything and wait for the rebuild but our employees need paychecks. They’ve all been notified and they’re starting to job-hunt to supplement their incomes.”

Like Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Seymour also suspects a waterspout or tornado may have formed during Hurricane Milton and inflicted the damage to the pier.

City Pier Grill operator discusses damage, recovery
Hurricane Milton destroyed a significant portion of the City Pier walkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“As I stand here and look at it the damage is so clean cut,” Seymour said. “I would venture to say 60-100 concrete pilings were pulled right out of the ground. Those pilings were driven 40-feet down. It appears we had a tornado come through here and take everything from about 10 feet off the T-end to about 100 feet from the shore.”

He also noted the utility lines, wastewater pipes and gas lines snapped off as well and he was told Mote Marine removed their live exhibits after Hurricane Helene and before Hurricane Milton.

Seymour’s insights

Seymour also owns and operates the nearby Anna Maria General Store and the Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle shop on Pine Avenue.

He was asked what it’s like to be the owner of multiple businesses impacted by back-to-back hurricanes.

“During Milton, the General Store fared well. We lost our solar hot water system but we have a backup system we can activate. As a business owner, with three of my businesses closed for almost two weeks without revenues, the money’s getting tight. It was already the slow time of year. To have a double-whammy like this is hard, but it’s hard on every business up and down this Island. There’s nothing we can do except clean up, try to recover and move forward,” Seymour said.

City Pier Grill operator discusses damage, recovery
The Anna Maria General Store opened briefly after Hurricane Helene, closed for Hurricane Milton and reopened again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Seymour was asked if he and others might reconsider the risks of operating a business on a barrier island prone to flooding and hurricane damage.

“All those thoughts have gone through my head. I don’t want to speak for other business owners but seeing some of the damage up and down the Island it’s hard for me to believe that every business is going to survive this. Some people will question whether it’s worth the risk of having your business and life dependent on a barrier island. During Helene, when I was wading across four feet of water on Pine Avenue, I really thought it might be time to pick a new place to start my life and businesses over. But we got lucky during Helene. I was able to get the City Pier Grill, the General Store and the bait shop reopened within a couple days, but Milton has substantially hurt our business on the pier,” he said.

City Pier Grill operator discusses damage, recovery
The City Pier buildings stand isolated without a walkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Seymour also addressed the emotional toll of being an Anna Maria resident and business owner during times like this; and also his current bid to serve as Anna Maria’s next mayor.

“It’s draining, but I love this city and I am still running for mayor. I hope people know that I’m here trying to support the community, the recovery and the rebuild. I’ve come to the personal conclusion that this is where I want my life to be, so I’m going to do everything I can; and I want all my employees to come back to work eventually,” he said.

Seymour was asked if he’s up for the additional challenge, if elected, of overseeing the city’s ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts after longtime Mayor Dan Murphy leaves office in November.

“Absolutely,” he said. “There’s so much to do, but I’m taking notes and watching what Mayor Murphy does. I think he’s done a great job cleaning up Anna Maria, getting the streets open and cleared of debris and getting the utilities back on. If I do win the mayor’s race, hopefully I can use him as a resource. And if Mark Short wins, I hope he reaches out for my assistance because it’s all about our community first. It’s not about who’s the mayor, who’s the vice-mayor and who’s a commissioner. It’s about Anna Maria,” Seymour said.

Related coverage:
City Pier badly damaged, temporary ferry landing installed
Parents reunited with Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque
Rod and Reel Pier owner hopes to rebuild

City Pier to receive a second coat of stain

City Pier to receive a second coat of stain

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The City Pier decking will be stained again in November, with the work taking place at night while the pier is closed as usual.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, the Anna Maria City Commission authorized Mayor Dan Murphy to enter into a $29,970 contract with Equity Painting to stain the pier.

“If you’ve taken a look at the pier lately it is somewhat faded and it is time for us to do some staining,” Murphy told the city commission members, who were previously made aware of the pending need to stain the pier.

Murphy noted the pier’s Ipe hardwood decking was originally stained for approximately $16,000 during the pier replacement project completed in mid-2020. Murphy said the original staining did not require the pressure washing that will be needed when the decking is stained again. Murphy said the pressure washing is especially needed near the fish cleaning stations.

Murphy said the city solicited three bids for the staining work. Coastal Painting Professionals bid $18,900, Equity Painting bid $29,970 and Jay Pros bid $38,475. Murphy noted Equity Painting was not the lowest bidder but had the best references and the best plan to stain the pier.

Murphy said Equity’s plan calls for minimal disruption to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop that’s operated on the pier by Brian Seymour and his business partners. Seymour attended Thursday’s meeting and thanked the mayor and commission for requesting the staining work be done overnight after the pier closes as usual at 10 p.m.

Murphy said Equity’s staining plan also calls for minimal impact on the installation of Mote Marine’s pier-based educational outreach center if that work is underway during the November timeframe.

“We want it done at night. We want it done over several days so we’re not blocking off the whole pier,” Murphy told the commission.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked if an olive oil-based stain would again be used. Murphy said yes, the same stain would be used that was originally used to stain the new pier.

“That stain is environmentally friendly. It’s meant for docks over water. It’s going to fade, but this might be the last time for several years that we’ll have to stain it,” Murphy said.

City Pier to receive a second coat of stain
This photo was taken the day the new City Pier opened on June 19, 2020. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The mayor said the city was aware that the pier would need to be stained a second time within a few years of being built and may not require another staining for another 10 years.

Commissioner Mark Short asked about an estimated timeline. Murphy said the work is expected to occur at some point in November and take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting.

City pursues Mote Marine pier proposal

City pursues Mote Marine pier proposal

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have asked Mayor Dan Murphy to approach Mote Marine for a final proposal outlining its plans to create a Marine Educational Outreach Center at the end of the City Pier.

The proposed 1,800-square-foot center would be operated by Sarasota-based Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium inside the vacant, city-owned building next to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop. The vacant building is one of two city-owned buildings constructed at the T-end of the pier during the pier replacement project completed in 2020.

The Mote Marine facility is one of several potential uses presented during a special city commission meeting held inside the vacant building on Feb. 10. Additional options included a full-service restaurant, a special events venue, a retail shop or some combination of those uses. The commission then held a follow-up meeting Wednesday, Feb. 17 at which Commissioner Mark Short cast the only opposition vote to the exclusive pursuit of the Mote Marine facility.

Options considered

On Feb. 10, Mote Marine representatives proposed a Marine Educational Outreach Center that would require the city to raise $500,000 of the anticipated $555,000 needed for the initial design and installation.

The proposal calls for Mote Marine to cover an estimated $444,000 in annual operating costs, including $303,212 for staffing. The proposal requests that the city pay an estimated $9,500 per year in utility bills and does not offer the city any monthly lease payments.

Commission favors Mote Marine pier proposal
Mayor Dan Murphy led the Feb. 17 discussion held inside the vacant pier building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When reviewing those options on Feb. 17, Murphy discussed other options, including a special events venue that he estimated would generate $60,000 to $75,000 in annual revenues for the city and cost the city and its taxpayers an estimated $275,000 to make the building habitable for that use.

Murphy said it might cost slightly less than that to complete the city’s portion of the buildout and improvements needed for a full-service restaurant offering 50 to 60 seats and limited storage capacity.

In 2020, Ugly Grouper LCC offered to lease both pier buildings and some additional outdoor deck space for $14,000 per month. The commission rejected that offer.

Murphy estimated a retail shop would generate approximately $70,000 in annual revenues for the city and require the city to spend $175,000 to $200,000 to ready the building.

Murphy then presented an additional option not discussed at the previous meeting – a covered, open-air cantina that would require the demolition of three existing exterior walls, with the bar and office located near the remaining wall. Murphy estimated an open-air cantina could generate between $55,000 and $75,000 in annual revenues for the city and the city would incur an estimated $225,000 to $250,000 in demolition and buildout costs.

Commission favors Mote Marine pier proposal
This simple floor plan illustrates the potential layout of an open-air cantina located on the City Pier. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

Murphy noted the cantina would potentially compete with the City Pier Grill – whose operators currently pay the city $6,000 per month to lease the smaller pier building.

“Is the purpose of government to compete with businesses or is it to complement businesses? My feeling is government should do what the private industry can’t do. I think we need to complement businesses,” Murphy said.

When providing public input, City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour noted his partnership group’s lease with the city allows them to bid on any proposed use of the currently vacant building. Seymour said if his group was selected to operate an open-air cantina that could complement their existing business.

“If it’s a different vendor over here it would definitely be competition, and would probably hurt both businesses,” he added.

Seymour said a regular full-service restaurant with such limited seating capacity would likely have to be expensive to be profitable.

Murphy acknowledged Seymour’s group does have the right of first refusal for any option the city chooses for the other building, providing they can provide the same services the city desires for that additional space.

Murphy said the purpose of the day’s meeting was to narrow down the potential options and provide him with direction as to which option or options to pursue.

Commission comments

Commissioner Jon Crane said the Mote Marine proposal would enhance the city while also enhancing environmental awareness.

“I hear from some people that we ought to maximize the potential of all exploitable resources. That’s not the mission of this commission, although I don’t think we should be wasting money either. I do think with clever negotiation skills the mayor might be able to come up with something with the Mote people where we might get a buck or two,” he said.

Short said he was intrigued by the open-air cantina concept and he doesn’t share the mayor’s desire to narrow down the options at this time. Instead, he suggested issuing a broad request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids for any proposed use of the pier building.

“After the meeting last week, I felt like everyone had made up their mind without knowing enough information. I still believe today there’s not enough information for us to make up our minds,” Short said.

Commission favors Mote Marine pier proposal
Commissioner Mark Short does not feel the options should be limited this early in the selection process. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commission Chair Carol Carter said she opposes another protracted RFP process similar to the previous RFPs that failed to produce a suitable tenant for the still-vacant building.

Crane said evaluating a broad range of RFP responses would be comparing “apples to oranges.”

Citing 45 years of fundraising experience, Carter said the Manatee County Tourist Development Council is not the only potential funding source for the proposed Mote Marine facility. She suggested the Manatee Community Foundation and private donors might also provide funding.

Public support

When expressing her support for the Mote Marine proposal, Anna Maria Island Historical Society President Liz Hager said, “We think it would be a great complement to what we do. It clearly shows the city and the Island care as much about the environment and history as they do the beaches.”

Longtime Anna Maria resident John Dicks said he’s thrilled with the Mote Marine proposal and he considers the City Pier to be a “community treasure” that should provide the public with a place to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

“I believe there would be an upsurge of people on this Island, myself included, who would want to make contributions to see that happen,” Dicks said.

He also suggested local businesses might be willing to sponsor the various Mote Marine exhibits.

Commission decision

When expressing his support for the Mote Marine proposal, Commissioner Joe Muscatello said, “I look at this the same way I would look at a city park. We’re not in this to make money – and even if we have to spend city money to get this going, I think we should.”

Muscatello said the open-air cantina intrigued him too, but that option wasn’t considered when a previous commission approved the pier design.

Muscatello made the motion for Murphy to proceed with getting a final proposal from Mote Marine. Crane seconded the motion and Carter and Commissioner Deanie Sebring also supported it.

Short opposed the motion and made a separate motion to pursue the open-air cantina as a second option. His motion died without a second from another commissioner. Murphy said the cantina concept could be further evaluated if the Mote Marine proposal doesn’t pan out. He also noted the Mote Marine proposal is not a simple undertaking.

“I’m going to have to manage the buildout of this space. I’m also responsible for going out and getting funding. That takes a lot of time, so I would like my efforts focused in one direction,” he said, noting he would provide the commission with an initial status update on Thursday, Feb. 25.

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City Pier Grill opening soon

City Pier Grill opening soon

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

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.

City Pier Grill opening soon
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.

City Pier Grill opening soon
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.”

City Pier Grill anticipates November opening

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

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.

City Pier Grill lease finalized

City Pier Grill lease terms finalized

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria and GSM Partners LLC have reached an agreement that allows Nick Graham, Brian Seymour and Vic Mattay to operate the City Pier Grill on the new City Pier.

Operating in the smaller of two city-owned spaces at the pier’s end, City Pier Grill will offer “family-friendly” takeout food that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items, ice cream, desserts and beer and wine. The business operations will also include a bait shop that offers live and frozen bait, fishing tackle and more.

Seymour is the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli on Pine Avenue. Mattay operates his Dips Ice Cream shop inside the general store and Graham manages the ice cream shop for Mattay. The three men are equal partners in the adjacent Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle store and they recently formed GSM Partners for their City Pier Grill operations.

Seymour said the trio will share the decision-making responsibilities and he will serve as the managing partner authorized to speak on the partnership’s behalf.

Seymour said they hope to open City Pier Grill the week before Thanksgiving.

Lease contract approved

On Thursday evening, the city commission voted 4-0 in favor of authorizing Mayor Dan Murphy to sign a five-year lease contract with GSM Partners.

“We’ve come up with this contract which I think is very fair and equitable,” Murphy said of the lease terms he and Seymour negotiated.

The lease includes one five-year renewal at the tenant’s option.

GSM Partners agreed to pay the city $6,000 per month in base rent, $500 of which is for the use of additional space inside the larger primary pier building. The building’s future use has not yet been determined.

The space inside the primary building will house a portable cooler and a portable freezer that will both be on wheels and easily relocated if the city later leases the entire primary building to another tenant. In that case, GSM Partners’ monthly rent would decrease by $500.

City Pier Grill lease finalized
City Pier Grill will operate in the space on the left side of the pier. The future use of the space on the right side of the pier remains unknown. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

According to the lease, the city reserves the right to negotiate with GSM Partners for the expanded use of the primary pier building, but also reserves the right to lease the entire primary building to another tenant.

Seymour told the commission he and his partners look forward to a lengthy business relationship with the city and they may one day also consider leasing the primary building.

GSM Partners will reimburse the city for 10% of the actual cost to maintain the pier and pier facilities.

“It will never go below 10%, but it could go above 10%,” Murphy said of those costs to be reviewed annually.

GSM Partners will also be responsible for 20% of the total utility bills associated with the pier.

The lease states the tenant has 45 days to complete the interior buildouts and be open for business. Murphy said there’s an incentive in the lease that provides up to 30 days free rent if they open sooner.

“I think it’s a good partnership. I think the right person got the bid. We’re very pleased to have you as a tenant on the pier,” Murphy said.

“I just wanted to thank the commission and the mayor. We think it’s fair for both the city and for us and we’re excited to get started. I’m proud to be a part of it. I think we’re going to make it a great place for everybody,” Seymour said.

“I’m thrilled that we have a resident of the city Anna Maria who’s heading up this partnership,” Commission Chair Carol Carter said.

Carter noted the city also has some commitments to fulfill as its share of the interior buildout process.

“We have to do the drywall, the hood and the grease trap,” she said.

Seymour said the $25,000 grease trap the commission previously approved as part of the city’s anticipated buildout costs won’t be necessary.

“There is a need for a grease trap, but not a big one buried on land. We only need one under the three-compartment sink, before the drain, to keep the grease in the trap. The grease trap the commission approved was for a full-service restaurant,” Seymour said when contacted later that night.

Seymour said the kitchen will have a flattop grill, a charbroiler and a deep fryer; the grease from the deep fryer will be recycled in a separate container.

“I have a cooking oil company that comes and collects all the used cooking oil,” he said.

“Amen and namaste,” Commissioner Jon Crane said during the meeting, before making the motion authorizing Murphy to sign the lease.

“This relationship is benefitting several businesses and several people, all who have close ties to the city of Anna Maria,” Commissioner Mark Short said.

“That influenced my vote as well,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello said.

“Especially looking forward to your desserts,” Muscatello added in reference to Anna Maria-based Hometown Desserts providing the dessert offerings in addition to Mattay’s ice cream offerings.

“We look forward to working with you and I think all the residents and visitors will be thrilled to have the grill and bait shop open on the pier,” Carter said.

Eager to start

After leaving city hall, Seymour said, “We’re already in the process of getting the final designs from our designer. We’ve got our equipment purchase list done. We need to hire a general contractor so we can start the permitting process and start building the space out. We’ve already been contacted by at least a dozen local hospitality workers who are interested in being part of this. We’re going to put together an excellent team that’s got a lot of experience right from the start.”

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