The Anna Maria Oyster Bar is returning to its roots on Anna Maria Island.
Bradenton Beach city commissioners July 23 selected Anna Maria Oyster Bar as the next restaurant concessionaire on the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
AMOB was chosen over Colorado-based Apeizza Restaurants, Tampa-based Island Sushi & Grill and proposals from Bradenton Beach Marina owner Alan Bazzy and Sherman Baldwin of Paradise Boat Tours.
“We’re absolutely on top of the world right now,” AMOB president John Horne said after the meeting, during a celebration at his landside restaurant, 6906 14th St. W., Bradenton.
“We are excited to be able to sit down at a table and negotiate a lease with the city of Bradenton Beach,” he continued.
As the runner-up, Apeizza will serve as an alternate. In the event the city cannot negotiate a lease with Horne, Apeizza will be asked to step in.
Horne’s proposal carried the day even though the terms of his bid were lower than requested. The request for proposal city officials published to generate interest in the restaurant told prospective concessionaires the city wanted them to pay $2,500 per month plus a percentage of gross sales.
Horne proposed to pay $1,666.66 per month — or $20,000 — for the first year, then to increase his monthly rent to $2,500, $2,575, $2,652.25 and $2,731.82 in years two through five, respectively.
AMOB originated on the Anna Maria City Pier in the 1990s and, on leaving the pier in 1994, Horne regrouped and opened a restaurant on U.S. 41 in Manatee County, then on Cortez Road and in Ellenton.
Before commissioners voted, Horne reminded them his business started on the island and he thinks it’s a “grateful circle” to come back. With a smaller footprint to work with than his other restaurants, Horne is proposing an “Anna Maria Oyster Bar Express” on the pier with a smaller menu than his other outlets.
Horne concluded his comments to commissioners by saying he gave up an invitation from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, to speak July 23 as a Florida business owner to the Florida congressional delegation. He determined it was more important to be in Bradenton Beach.
Also before the vote, Bazzy told commissioners he has been committed to helping maintain the anchorage near the pier for more than 30 years. He said his company has a comprehensive plan based on many years of experience and, he said, he’s confident, it would “bring the city’s assets into their highest and best use.”
Apeizza owner Rich Foresta attended the meeting but did not have an opportunity to speak.
