Tenants, vendors, staff and boaters in the Seafood Shack Restaurant and Marina community were in a state of shock after receiving a Sept. 13 notice of eviction from the owner, Vandyk Properties.
The notice came on the heels of a Sept. 5 Manatee County meeting at which the board of commissioners revealed the county would buy the Seafood Shack for $13 million.
The board adopted a budget resolution to facilitate execution of a sales contract between the county and Vandyk to acquire the Seafood Shack Marina and adjoining properties at 4110 127th St. W., Cortez.
The exchange was expected to be finalized in October.
The county said the location would provide public boating access, including a ramp and dry storage.
At the Sept. 5 meeting, Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, R-District 3, said. “We’re not looking to put anyone out of work.”
But a Sept. 13 hand-delivered letter from the offices of Vandyk Properties attorney Bradley Hogreve alerted tenants to a termination notice.
Tenants and vendors include the Seafood Shack restaurant and bar, Annie’s Bait and Tackle, H2O Watersports, Waves Boat & Social Club, Yolo Parasailing, multiple fishing guides and tour boats that operate out of the marina and people who lease boat slips.
“Please be advised that the leasehold property is being sold. As part of that transaction, we are obligated to terminate your tenancy and provide vacant possession effective September 30, 2024. This letter shall serve as such notice pursuant to Florida Statute Chapter 83.03,” the letter read.
The notice referred questions and concerns to Manatee County property acquisitions division manager Charles Meador.
Manatee County information outreach manager Bill Logan responded to a Sept. 18 email inquiry from The Islander about the eviction notice, stating the decision to evict came from Vandyk Properties and not the county.
“The current leases were on a month-to-month basis, and the current (owner) would not agree to a sale date extension to allow the buyers (Manatee County) an opportunity to evaluate the current leases prior to closing,” Logan wrote. “So the current tenants must vacate their locations per the current landlord’s requirements.”
Carissa Dressel, owner of WAVES Boat and Social Club, who runs a 60-boat fleet out the marina, spoke to The Islander Sept. 20: “I was a little surprised because I had read that the county was buying it and that they were looking to keep vendors.
“We’ve provided jobs and have always paid our rent for 20 years. It’s our livelihood,” she continued. “Just to get a letter out of the blue like that … it didn’t say who it was from, who it was representing, it didn’t say the landlords name or anything. Is someone just going to send me a random letter and expect me to just pick up and move our business after 20 years?”
Dressel said she sent a copy of the notice to an attorney and was in talks with the county about the future of the marina.
Another business operator at the property, who said they feared retribution and was granted anonymity to talk to The Islander, said Sept. 19 that the county had responded to leaseholders in a positive fashion and it seemed none of the marina’s vendors or tenants would be affected by the Sept. 30 deadline for eviction.
“The county is ready to hit the ground running,” the tenant said.
The same individual said the fate of the Seafood Shack restaurant could be in question, however, as the building needs repairs and might have to close for improvements. “This is a good thing and it’s going to benefit a lot of people in the end,” he said.
Logan, in his email, wrote, “It is the intention of Manatee County to make every effort to establish new contracts that include county contract requirements with legacy and/or new vendors once the county is the owner of the property.”
He did not comment on designs but did say there will likely be no changes made to the current configuration of the property for a year or two.
“No work will commence before neighbors, nearby homeowner’s associations and other stakeholders are informed of the impacts anticipated and allowed an ample opportunity to engage in that planning process,” Logan wrote.