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Waterfront Market
'City says no one waits in the wings' KW citizen newsarticle by Mandy Bolan 9-6-07 |
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| The city of Key West has not received any inquiries, proposals or applications to lease the building being vacated by Waterfront Market after 21 years in business there. Property Manager Marilyn Wilbarger on Wednesday said she has not heard from anyone, including the corporate chains widely rumored to be taking over the space. Wilbarger said she inadvertently may have started those rumors. “A few months ago, I asked the [Key West Bight Management Board] whether they wanted to consider having a destination retail store at the bight, such as World Wide Sportsman, because everyone stops in Islamorada on their way to and from Key West,” she said. “Ever since then, people have been assuming that World Wide Sportsman is going into that space, but there has been no communication.” Having received official written notice on Wednesday of Waterfront Market’s intent to vacate the building on Sept. 30, Wilbarger said she will advertise the space and begin accepting letters of interest from businesses. “The possibilities are endless in that location, and I think it’s way too early to surmise what will be there,” she said, adding the city could even consider separate tenants in the ground and second floors. KeysCaribbean also quelled rumors that it has designs on the building. The developer is building the Harbour House condominium complex on the property adjacent to Waterfront Market, and owns the nearby Conch Harbor Marina. “I live on Sunset Key and I use Waterfront Market,” said CEO Craig Hunt. “I think it’s a great shame to lose that amenity, and we have no plans for that piece of property and would certainly love to see it stay.” The end seems inevitable, considering an official letter that grocery store owner Buco Pantelis issued Wednesday, thanking his loyal customers and blaming the city and its rent increases for his closure. “... the cost and terms of the proposed lease make it unfeasible to operate our business in the coming years,” Pantelis wrote. “It became very clear in the end that the negotiators and the mayor were not interested in preserving the Waterfront Market as an anchor tenant at the bight.” City Manager Jim Scholl was disappointed that Pantelis blamed the city. “We extended [Pantelis] every courtesy to continue on a month to- month lease while deciding whether he would remain in business based on personal issues in his life,” Scholl said on Wednesday. “This lease proposal was his first rent increase in six years, and he has gotten probably more consideration than any other tenant at the bight. “The city is a landlord and tried to be as fair as possible,” he said. “The city can’t afford to subsidize one tenant more than others.”- mbolen@keysnews.com |
