HOLMES BEACH – The owners of the Ugly Grouper are hoping city leaders will give them the opportunity to expand their business.
On behalf of the owners, attorney Scott Rudacille appeared before city commissioners during a Jan. 12 work session. He presented a slide show demonstrating what changes the owners are proposing to the existing site plan approval, primarily utilizing golf cart parking spaces to allow for an increase in daytime and nighttime seating.
Under the current site plan approval, the Ugly Grouper can have three seats per vehicle parking space. If the restaurant’s seven six-person golf cart spaces were used to count an average of four seats per space and the six two-person golf cart spaces were allowed to count as 1.5 seats per cart, it would allow the restaurant to add 38 more seats. This would bring the number of seats in the restaurant to 270 seats plus 8 free seats for a total of 278.
Rudacille said the fire marshal has already approved the increase in the number of seats.
City Planner Bill Brisson said that while the applicant planned to increase parking to 92 spaces on the property and at adjacent properties owned by the same group, two of the spaces, which previously were occupied by a sign and mailbox couldn’t be considered parking spaces. If the parking lot, located next door to the restaurant at 5702 Marina Drive, was restriped to try and create more spaces, Brisson said that space restrictions could create too many compact vehicle-only spaces. Holmes Beach city code allows only 20% of total parking spaces to be compact spaces, which would be a maximum of 18 spaces for the Ugly Grouper.
Rudacille added that the restaurant owners may also have to seek a special exception for the outdoor speakers installed to play music after live music ends nightly at 8 p.m.
Commissioners decided after some discussion to bring the matter back to a future work session to obtain further information from the restaurant owners before taking the matter to a public hearing and formal vote.
ANNA MARIA – Restaurateur Sean Murphy has withdrawn his bid proposal to lease the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings at the end of the new Anna Maria City Pier.
Today, Sean Murphy sent Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy a note regarding his decision to withdraw his offer. The mayor then forwarded copies of that digital communication to city commissioners, along with his own response.
In his note to the mayor, Sean Murphy wrote, “It was my intention when I entered the RFP process to be as helpful as possible to you in your endeavor to find the best operator for your pier franchise. I was far from certain that the operator should be me, but I was convinced that I could be helpful.
“Since I formed that resolution our community has been assaulted by a pandemic. The hospitality industry has been turned on its head. I was dismayed when my RFP became one of only two submitted at the closing date and was further dismayed when the motion was made and then passed that we would be the first negotiant. I believe we have fallen into a difficult time for planning any hospitality project. It is not your fault that in the middle of your RFP mechanism our world has turned inside out,” Sean Murphy wrote.
“I would recommend to you and the commission that you begin the RFP process over again when potential applicants have adjusted to the new environment and can make better decisions. I am certain that you will receive more and better proposals than you have now. I am withdrawing my proposal and encouraging you and the commission to begin again,” Sean Murphy wrote.
In response, Mayor Dan Murphy wrote, “Sean. Thank you for your note. I will relay your note to our commissioners. Our city appreciates your having taken the time to bid and hope that if a new RFP is issued, you would consider submitting an offer again. This will confirm receipt of your notification withdrawing your offer from further consideration for the City Pier restaurant.”
Sean Murphy’s Beach Bistro restaurant had not yet reopened as of Saturday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Previous actions
During the special city commission meeting on Wednesday, the commission voted 4-1 in favor of authorizing Mayor Murphy to begin pier lease negotiations with Sean Murphy, the owner-operator of the Beach Bistro and Eat Here restaurants in Holmes Beach, where he also owns and operates The Doctor’s Office craft cocktail bar.
Commissioners Joe Muscatello, Mark Short and Amy Tripp supported Commissioner Jon Crane’s motion to move forward with Sean Murphy as the commission’s preferred pier tenant. Commissioner Carol Carter opposed that decision.
The commission majority selected Sean Murphy’s offer to pay the city $14,000 per month in base rent over the $18,000 in monthly base rent offered by the Ugly Grouper LCC group that includes Ugly Grouper restaurant co-owner Mike Ross and General Manager Thad Treadwell.
On Friday, Tripp submitted a request to rescind the commission’s pier lease decision. Tripp’s request for a “Motion to rescind action taken at meeting of May 6,” was then placed on the agenda for the commission’s next meeting on Thursday, May 14.
On Sunday, Sean Murphy withdrew his offer. Now that he has withdrawn his offer, the commission will decide on Thursday whether to authorize Dan Murphy to begin lease negotiations with Ross and the Ugly Grouper LLC or to reject both bids received and issue another request for proposals (RFP) as part of its efforts to secure a new pier tenant.
Thursday’s meeting
Because city hall remains closed to the public due the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Thursday’s commission meeting will again be conducted via telephone, and public comment will be allowed. The meeting will start at 2 p.m. To listen to and/or participate in Thursday’s meeting call 1-408-650-3123 before the meeting starts. When prompted, enter the access code, which is 590303789.
ANNA MARIA – The details contained in the two pier lease bid proposals opened in early April are expected to be made public at a special city commission meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 2 p.m.
Thad Treadwell and Mike Ross from the Ugly Grouper and Sean Murphy, owner of the Beach Bistro and Eat Here, submitted the two bids the city received in response to the request for proposals (RFP) issued in January seeking a tenant for the new pier buildings.
The new pier tenant is also responsible at their own expense to complete the interior buildouts of the city-owned pier buildings.
When the sealed bid proposals were opened in the commission chambers on April 8, Mayor Dan Murphy said the city had 30 days to make the proposals available to the public and the media and that he expected to provide his initial evaluation of the bid proposals to city commissioners on Thursday, April 23 and then to the public.
During the April 23 meeting, Murphy told the commission he needed some additional information from the bidders before he could make his recommendation as to which of the two bidders he recommends negotiating with first.
“As you know there were two bidders. Both were contacted to provide more information as to who would be the responsible party for the lease, on the buildout, as well as us knowing what the financial responsibility pieces are on the bid itself,” Murphy told the commission on Thursday.
Murphy said he expected to have that information by the close of business on Friday.
“I want to incorporate that into the bid and then make sure the commission understands who it is that we’re doing business with. Once that’s received, I’m going to gather more information, do more research on what we have with these bids, spend a little more time with our consultant. I will then discuss with the commission some of my findings,” Murphy said.
The consultant Murphy referred to is former Sandbar general manager and long-time restaurant CEO Doug Sullivan.
Murphy requested a special city commission meeting be scheduled to discuss the bid proposals, at which time he will bring options and a recommendation to the commission for a decision.
Murphy also said he would meet individually with each commissioner provide them with an update before the formal public discussion takes place.
“We have until May 8th to make a decision and make a vote,” Murphy said.
With city hall still closed to the public, restaurateur Sean Murphy attended Thursday’s meeting via telephone.
“I’m listening and open to any and all suggestions,” he told the commission.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the opening date for the new pier has not yet been announced. As of Monday, the pier remained closed.
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria received two bids from parties interested in leasing the restaurant and bait shop buildings on the new Anna Maria City Pier.
Thad Treadwell and Mike Ross from the Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach submitted a bid, as did Sean Murphy, owner of the Beach Bistro, Eat Here and The Doctor’s Office in Holmes Beach.
Current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder did not submit a bid proposal in response to the RFP the city issued in January. Nor did any other restaurateurs or restaurant groups.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy opened the sealed bids during a public pier bid opening at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8. That date and time also served as the deadline to submit a bid proposal.
The public pier bid opening was conducted as a virtual meeting with most meeting attendees participating by phone, including city commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp
The proposed monthly base rent amounts and all other details contained in the RFP proposals received are not currently available to the media or the public.
Two parties have submitted proposals to lease the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings at the end of the new Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After opening the sealed bids in the presence of City Clerk LeAnne Addy, Murphy said, “Those are the two bids we’ve received. The way this process works is we’ll have 30 days to do an analysis of these bids. I don’t suppose it will take 30 days. It is my anticipation that I would be able to report on these bids, back the commission, by the April 23 meeting at 6 p.m.” Murphy said.
“These bids are confidential for 30 days – or they’re not confidential once I release them back to the commission and make a report on the bids. If we give a report back on April 23, they would then become public record,” Murphy said.
After Murphy presents his report to the city commission, the commissioners will decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If the commission accepts the proposals, the commission will then rank the proposals and authorize Murphy to discuss and negotiate lease terms with the top ranked bidder.
If the discussions and negotiations with the top-ranked bidder do not produce a suitable lease agreement, the mayor will seek commission authorization to discontinue those discussions and begin a similar process with the second-highest ranked bidder.
According to the RFP, “The city reserves the right to reject any or all proposals with or without cause; to waive any or all irregularities with regard to the specifications and to make the award to the proposer offering the greatest advantage to the city. All bids must be sealed and will be rejected if received after the submission date and time.”
The opening date for the new pier walkway and T-end platform for fishing and sightseeing remains unknown. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The opening date for the new pier walkway and T-end platform for fishing and sightseeing remains unknown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Murphy has previously stated that he intends to make the new pier and pier restrooms open to the public while the pier tenant completes the interior buildouts of the city-owned buildings.
Updated July 5 – HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Health Department has identified a case of Hepatitis A in a food service worker in Holmes Beach.
Following laboratory confirmation on July 1, the department immediately began conducting an epidemiological investigation and determined that the individual worked at The Ugly Grouper restaurant, 5704 Marina Drive, while infectious.
The worker is recovering, The Ugly Grouper General Manager Thad Treadwell said, adding, “He thought he had the flu,” but tested positive at the hospital.
“With the outbreak that’s going on, you could get it anywhere,” he said.
Another case of Hepatitis A was confirmed by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in a food service worker at Sandpiper Grille in Sun City Center in March.
Since January 2019, 1718 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported in Florida, an increase reflecting national trends, with more than 20,000 cases identified nationwide, according to DOH, which recommends vaccination as the best protection.
Fewer than 5% of Hepatitis A cases are food service workers, and no cases of Hepatitis A transmission from a food worker to a restaurant patron have been documented, according to DOH.
The Manatee County Health Department offers free vaccines, with the next vaccine clinic on Saturday, July 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the main office, 410 Sixth Ave. E. in Bradenton. Beginning next week, the vaccine will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the health department.
Ugly Grouper statement
The Ugly Grouper released this statement on Friday, July 5:
“On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2nd 2019, The Ugly Grouper was notified by the Manatee County Health Department of a positive test of Hepatitis A in a member of our serving staff. Thankfully, that team member has been treated and we wish them a speedy recovery at home. At The Ugly Grouper, we take food safety very seriously. As a precautionary measure, on that same evening, we instituted a 12-hour deep cleaning process of the entire restaurant. The following morning at 10 a.m., the Health Department confirmed our current practices meet all cleanliness and operational compliance standards. Vaccinations were also offered to the entire staff by the Health Department, which were accepted by all to ensure the continued safety of our staff and patrons… The Ugly Grouper on average serves over 750 customers daily, and would like to thank all of the loyal fans of The Ugly Grouper who understand our commitment to high quality and superior service. With everyone’s support, we will continue to be one of the fastest growing and best destinations for tourists and locals on Anna Maria Island. If there are any follow up questions, please direct them to our general manager, Thad Treadwell, at ttreadwell@uglygrouper.com.”
Hepatitis A vaccines were given Friday at Anna Maria Elementary School. – Bob Alexander | Sun
What to do if you are exposed
The Manatee County Health Department advises anyone who patronized The Ugly Grouper prior to June 22 and had not previously been vaccinated for Hepatitis A to consider being vaccinated at the Manatee County Health Department or primary care physician’s office. You will receive the first dose of the vaccine, with a second dose being administered six months later. If you have previously received the Hepatitis A vaccine, you do not need to take additional action.
The health department offers free vaccines, with the next vaccine clinic on Saturday, July 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the main office, 410 Sixth Ave. E. in Bradenton. Beginning next week, the vaccine will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the health department.
The Hepatitis A vaccine may provide protection against the disease if given within two weeks after exposure. Patrons should monitor for symptoms of Hepatitis A infection which include sudden onset of abdominal discomfort, dark urine, fever, diarrhea, pale white stools and yellow skin and eyes (jaundice). Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
A hotline has been set up for people who have questions about Hepatitis A at 941-708-5951.
People who should be vaccinated include:
All children at age one year
People who are homeless
Users of recreational drugs, whether injected or not
Men who have sexual encounters with other men
People with direct contact with others who have Hepatitis A
Travelers to countries where Hepatitis A is common
People with chronic or long-term liver disease, including Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
People with clotting-factor disorders
Family and caregivers of adoptees from countries where Hepatitis A is common
Hepatitis A treatment, prevention
Besides vaccination, practicing good hand hygiene plays an important role in preventing the spread of Hepatitis A, according to the health department.
Wash hands after using the bathroom — alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill the Hepatitis A virus. Use soap and running water and wash for at least 20 seconds, wash hands after changing a diaper or caring for a person, and wash hands before preparing, serving or eating food.
No medicines can cure the disease once symptoms appear. People with Hepatitis A symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
Most people get better over time but may need to be hospitalized.
Previous infection with Hepatitis A provides immunity for the rest of a person’s life.
People who are exposed to Hepatitis A may be given vaccine or immune globulin within 14 days of exposure to prevent infection.
How Hepatitis A is investigated
After a case of Hepatitis A has been reported to the health department by a health care provider, a county health department epidemiologist will interview the individual and collect information regarding the timeline of their past 50 days, including travel, occupation, food history and more. The epidemiologist will then identify all close contacts of the ill person who should receive the Hepatitis A vaccine to prevent any possible spread of the illness.
The majority of cases are close contacts of persons who are experiencing homelessness, or persons who use injected or non-injected drugs.
The Center of Anna Maria Island field was the venue for the adult flag football quarterfinal playoff games Thursday night. In the crisp spring breeze, the community center’s new Youth Program Coordinator, Tim Holly, brought his young team, Hashmark Sports, to battle against Charles Buky and the Ugly Grouper squad.
As the clear underdogs, having a slow start to the season, Hashmark Sports struggled to stop Ugly Grouper’s Jon Moss and Nick Sato. Moss quickly ran a long route for the first down reception, giving Sato a chance to score.
Buky’s QB skills hit Sato for the first touchdown of the game. Failing to get the point after, Holly’s team took the field six points down.
Trying to find their groove, Matteo Ferris threw the ball with confidence to his main go-to receiver Anthony Mannino. Despite moving the football into Ugly Grouper territory, Hashmark Sports could not find the end zone.
Despite most of the team being just out of high school, Hashmark went out on the field with energy and determination. On defense, Holly showed why his team is a contender with a critical sack of Buky on the Ugly Grouper third down play.
After a first down play, Ferris threw a short pitch to Holly who ran the ball for critical yards after. Sato prevented the touchdown with a big flag pull.
Hashmark Sports’ Jaret Rojas took the snap and found Mannino in the end zone to tie the important playoff game.
Playing hard for the win, emotions began to flare up on the Hashmark team as a bad pass to Holly forced the team to get the first down on the next play.
Ugly Grouper’s key veteran player Christina “Dina” Calvary used her speed to chase the Hashmark Sports quarterback all around the backfield. Finally getting free, Holly caught the first down pass.
Quickly calling the timeout with 18 seconds left in the half. Mannino with the football gave a little juke and sidestep to get past the Ugly Grouper defender and into the end zone.
Moss tipped the extra point pass, leaving the score at the half 6-12.
The last 20 minutes of the game started with Ugly Grouper on offense. The floater pass by Buky was intercepted by Mannino, sparking the team’s energy once again.
Mike Brusso rushed the Hashmark Sports quarterback Rojas, nearly getting the sack. Just before Brusso could get there, Rojas pitched the football back to Holly behind the line of scrimmage, but he got caught by the Ugly Grouper defender for a loss of yardage.
With a diving Calvary flag pull, Mannino was stopped at the original line of scrimmage leading to a third down play in the pass only zone.
Ferris gained the first down, but the team just could not cross the line into the end zone on the next three snaps.
The short catch of Sato was stopped by a double flag pull by Holly. Mannino was on Moss for the immediate stop after the catch on second down. Moss was Buky’s target on the third-down pass, but he was stopped just short of the first down.
On the next possession, Hashmark Sports quickly turned over the football with an interception by Moss. Players on the two teams lost their heads as words were said and testosterone filled the air.
Hashmark Sports’ Chris Smith makes his way down the field toward his sister on defense, Ugly Grouper’s Dina Calvary, in last Wednesday night’s quarterfinal game. – Monica Simpson | Sun
Both teams calmed down and resumed play with a big first down catch by Brusso. The big catch by Moss was followed by a key flag pull by Joey Carder preventing the score. Despite a beautiful diving catch by Moss, the Ugly Grouper squad could not put six points on the scoreboard.
Holly grabbed the ball three yards short of the first down with five minutes left in the game. Hashmark took the football all the way down the field but just could not break the scoring barrier to widen their lead.
One minute on the clock is plenty for a skilled and focused Buky as the quarterback. Moss caught the first catch for Ugly Grouper only to be followed by a Mannino stop.
With Brusso as the center and rushing obstacle, Holly sped around him to make the sack on Buky. Ugly Grouper quickly called a time out.
At third down and lots of field left to conquer, a bad snap to Buky was all it took to end the game, giving the Hashmark Sports team their seat in semifinal action as the #5 seed.
In the second quarterfinal game of the night Gulfview Windows, playing without Jordan Demers, lost in a very close battle against Beach House Real Estate. The game looked like it might go into overtime play, but the solid combination of Chad Woods and Chris Gillum just could not be stopped.
The regular season top finishers Progressive Cabinetry will be taking on Hashmark Sports at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. Lancaster Design, the second seed team, takes on the Gillum and the rest of the Beach House Real Estate crew at 6:30 p.m.
April 4 at 7:30 p.m. is the setting for the much-anticipated championship game at The Center.
The Center of Anna Maria Island’s gym was filled with fast-paced, wall beating, bouncing ball youth indoor soccer. With six regular season games under their belt, the three teams sponsored by the Ugly Grouper headed into playoff night last Wednesday with Team Blue at the top of the rankings.
Ugly Grouper Team Red and Team White went head-to-head in the first game of the night to decide who survived elimination and play in the championship game. Consistent with the final season standings, Team Red won the semi-final game.
After a short break in the action, Ugly Grouper Team Blue and Team Red took to the court for the last 40 minutes of play in the season.
Ugly Grouper Team Blue came into the game with the stronger record, but the championship game proved once again that the win could be earned by any team.
Frankie Coleman started off the game with the kickoff back to an Ugly Grouper Team Blue teammate. Team Red’s Gregory Jordan quickly showed the many friends and family in the stands his abilities on the indoor pitch with a shot rocketing to the goal.
Jackson Pakbaz, the eldest son of coach Sam Pakbaz, made the first assist to Coleman for the tying goal soon after.
For the first half of the game, the scoring went back and forth, making for an exciting match-up. Key player Anthony Nguyen, for Team Red, put the third point on the scoreboard giving his team a one-point lead.
Pakbaz’s first shot of the night was saved by goalie Harrison Schenerlein. Fighting back his brother Pakbaz scored the second goal for their team with the assist from William and goal by Jackson.
Tied up, Team Red played a strong offensive game with two girls playing in the big game. Ava Harlan and Laila Yavalar covered the entire court, supporting their team on both sides of the bouncy yellow ball.
Nguyen, all by himself with coach Pakbaz trying to get his team to cover him, scored his second goal of the game. He followed up quickly with another shot only to be stopped by J. Pakbaz.
Coleman made a fast-paced charge toward the Team Red goal. With strong defense by Payton Harlan, Coleman could not find the net.
Back and forth action with post shots and Schenerlein saves charged the atmosphere with energy.
Playing to the direction and encouragement of Team Red coaches Gary Harlan and Kris Yavalar pushed offensively and attacked defensively with a no quit attitude.
Dribbling through defensive traffic, Nguyen got his hat-trick pushing Team Red’s lead up by two points.
Team Blue’s W. Pakbaz and Coleman put the pressure on Jordan blocking his shot and preventing the score. The defense could not stop the offensive assault by P. Harlan and Jordan. Harlan’s shot went just wide of the post, but Jordan’s quick thinking and speed chased down the rebound for the fifth Team Red goal, moving the score to 5-2.
Despite having just played the semi-final game, Team Red showed no sign of fatigue as the first half of the championship game came to a close.
After a great halftime talk by coach Pakbaz, J. Pakbaz came out from behind the boards to stop Nguyen in his tracks. Pakbaz scored on a free kick sparking a fire for Team Blue narrowing Team Red’s lead.
Team Blue’s goalkeeper Michael Coleman saved another missile shot by Nguyen. His relentless pursuit gave Nguyen another scoring opportunity, this time successful.
Caden Quinby, for Team Blue, took the court with a vengeance helping to give his teammates support as they fought to make a comeback.
Both teams used the boards to move the soccer ball past the immediate defenders. Jordan took advantage of the indoor rules finding an opening for his second goal in the game, widening Team Red’s lead.
Team Blue’s drive to win continued and the crowd exploded when J. Pakbaz’s midcourt shot went through the hands and legs of Schenerlein.
Team Red shot another strike for a goal before F. Coleman fired a shot that went off the back of Yavalar. The team’s MVP J. Pakbaz took another free kick that went past the goalie advancing the score to 8-5.
Minutes later J. Pakbaz hit another goal reducing the deficit for Team Blue by only two points.
The Team Blue defense just could not stop the Team Red offense in the last minutes of the game. Once again not covered, Jordan took the behind the net pass by Nguyen for a goal.
After a brilliant stop by Yavalar on the offensive press by J. Pakbaz, Team Red scored its 10th goal of the game.
Nguyen scored the final goal for his team after a tough possession battle between Jordan and W. Pakbaz.
With the remaining fight in the game, Team Blue’s F. Coleman scored the final goal of the game, capping the score at 11-7, giving the underdog Team Red the championship title.
HOLMES BEACH – AMI Radio is teaming up with the Ugly Grouper and several local musicians to host a Hurricane Irma benefit fundraiser that will double as a thank you to first responders who helped get the Island up and running again.
The kid-friendly event will take place Sunday, Oct. 8 from 1-8 p.m. The musical lineup is expected to include Lorraine Baker, Tony O’Dell, Loren Davidson, Thor, Beach Bum Pirate, Bill Vinhage, Koko & Karma, Albert Bashor, Mikey Silbaugh, The Fungies, Tony Lapera, Luke Andrews, June Eysel & John Volpicella and Teri Duncan.
Tickets are $10 and first responders will receive free beer. A 50/50 raffle also will be held. Event proceeds will assist the American Red Cross and the Blessing Bags Project, a local organization that helps homeless adults and children.
Serving food, beer, wine, liquor and more, the Ugly Grouper is located at 5704 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, across the street from City Hall.
Streaming live, AMI Radio features independent artists, original music and a variety of weekly entertainment shows.
For more information on the benefit, call Casey Hoffman at 941-524-5207, email Casey@AnnaMariaIslandRadio.com or visit AMI Radio on Facebook.
