AMOB pier improvements making headway

Amendments to a city ordinance and We’re Back Inc.’s lease must be made before the requested improvements and changes take effect.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) took a few more steps in the ongoing process to make several improvements to its Bradenton Beach Pier-based operation.

Led by company president John Horne and operating its Bradenton Beach location as We’re Back Inc., AMOB, since late 2015, has operated in the pier building leased from the city.

We’re Back Inc. also leases the two smaller buildings located next to the main pier building. The yellow-colored space is subleased to Paradise Boat Tours. The salmon-colored space was previously subleased to two retail tenants.

AMOB wants to use that vacant space as a to-go food pickup kiosk that also serves ice cream, alcoholic beverages and more.

When presenting this request in

January, Horne also requested the city’s permission to allow alcohol purchased at the to-go kiosk or in the restaurant to be consumed on the Bradenton Beach Pier. An existing city ordinance currently prohibits alcohol consumption on the pier, but alcohol consumption is allowed inside the AMOB restaurant and on the restaurant’s open-air patio.

We’re Back Inc. wants to install three or four tiki hut-like covered high-top tables along the pier railings directly south of the restaurant building.

We’re Back Inc. also wants to install a $60,000 crab trap and buoy-themed decorative fence along the northern end of the pier property, between the pier parking lot and the Pines Trailer Park. The trailer park side of the fence will be plain wood and will not feature the decorative crab traps.

Horne’s previously requested pier improvements were discussed again at the April 5 CRA meeting and the April 6 city commission meeting.

Cra Approvals

During the April 5 CRA meeting, Horne secured from the CRA

Floating dock expansion expected soon

Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift will soon begin the long-delayed installation of the finger piers to be attached to the existing floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry. Approximately nine finger piers will be connected to the floating dock. The finger piers will extend perpendicular to the main pier and provide additional dockage. Perry announced the anticipated project commencement on April 5 when presenting a $3,900 change order request to the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. The change order pertains to the installation of two additional support pilings for the finger piers. Perry said the CRA currently has approximately $400,000 in remaining available funds and $260,000 is needed to install the finger piers previously manufactured by Golden Marine Systems. In 2021, Manatee County approved up to $850,000 in matching funds for the expansion of the public docking area and the replacement of the nearby dinghy dock. Later that year, CRA members tentatively approved a $561,000 contract with Duncan Seawall that covered the material, installation and labor costs for the dock expansion and dock replacement projects. - Joe Hendricks