It’s 800 feet or so from landside to the T-end of the Anna Maria pier.
Anna Maria commissioners took a step closer to choosing a business to negotiate with on a lease and operation of a concession on the new pier.
Mayor Dan Murphy updated commissioners Aug. 27 on the selection process for an operator of a takeout grill and bait shop in the smaller of the two buildings at the pier’s T-end.
Murphy will now evaluate the four bids received and narrow them to two choices to be presented at an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, when commissioners can approve, deny or modify his recommendation. The two bidders would then make their pitches to the commission at a future meeting.
Commissioners would select a preferred bidder at that meeting — and lease negotiations would begin.
Murphy’s proposal was unanimously approved.
The four bidders include:
- FP Growth Partners of Anna Maria, with Michael, Patrick and Casey Coleman of Anna Maria listed as title managers.
- Harry’s Continental Kitchens of Longboat Key.
- Tevatan LLC, with Sarah Baldwin, daughter of Sherman Baldwin, owner of Paradise Boat Tours in Bradenton Beach, listed as title manager.
- A joint proposal from former Commissioner Brian Seymour, owner of the Pine Avenue General Store, Victor Mattay, owner of Dips Ice Cream and Nicholas Graham of Pine Avenue Bait, all in the Historic Green Village on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
The city hopes to have the grill and bait shop operational by late 2020 after halting negotiations with previous 20-year tenant Mario Schoenfelder, followed by the Ugly Grouper restaurant of Holmes Beach.
The original pier opened in 1911 but was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and demolished in 2018.
The pier is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, as well as Labor Day.
Editor’s note: Anna Maria commissioners unanimously voted Sept. 1 to shortlist bidders for the grill and bait shop on the new city pier to Mike, Patrick and Casey Coleman of FP Growth Partners of Anna Maria and a joint bid by Brian Seymour, owner of Pine Avenue General Store, Vick Mattay, owner of Dips Ice Cream and Nick Graham, owner of Pine Avenue Bait, all in the Historic Green Village. The bidders will present before the commission at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.