ANNA MARIA – German brewer and restaurateur Oliver “Oli” Lemke is the new owner of the iconic Rod & Reel Pier and restaurant in Anna Maria.
German businessman Mario Schoenfelder bought the Rod & Reel Pier in 1999 and sold it to his friend and fellow German businessman on Nov. 21.
In response to a Dec. 7 email inquiry from The Sun, Lemke wrote, “Having been a friend of Mario’s family for many years, I´ve known the pier for quite a while as a guest. After the closing of the sale on the 21st of November, I came over and stayed at the pier for 10 days to get to know the team, the guests and the atmosphere. Everything at the pier will stay the same. To me, it´s a little piece of paradise and I intend to keep it that way.”
Lemke is a brewmaster who has operated his own brewery in Berlin since 1999. In addition to his Lemke Berlin brewery, he also owns four restaurants in Berlin.
“I always wanted to extend my business to the U.S. because I´ve been a fan since I first touched U.S. soil in 1984 as an exchange student in North Carolina – so I took this chance. I plan to come to the pier about every 10-15 weeks,” Lemke wrote.
Longtime Rod & Reel Pier Manager Dave Cochran will continue in his managerial role.
“It’s new ownership but everything’s basically staying the same. It’s the same program. Oli owns restaurants and a brewery in Berlin, so he’s no stranger to the business,” Cochran said.
The Rod & Reel Pier’s upstairs restaurant provides a scenic view of the Anna Maria shoreline and Tampa Bay – a view that often features marine life swimming in the waters below.
The restaurant menu offerings include appetizers and several sandwiches, including the half-pound Pier Burger, the grouper sandwich and grouper Reuben and the Krab Cake sandwich. The main course menu includes a grouper dinner, garlic grouper, Mexican grouper, the Krab Cake dinner, a seafood combo, a shrimp dinner, a sea scallop dinner, fish and chips and more. The offerings also include soups, salads, side dishes and desserts.
The breakfast menu includes steak and eggs, several types of omelets, including a seafood omelet, pancakes, French toast and breakfast sandwiches.
The Rod & Reel Pier’s downstairs bar is a popular gathering place for visitors and locals alike, and a place where locals often drop by to discuss what’s happening on the Island.
Visit the Rod & Reel Pier online at www.rodreelpier.com. Visit the Lemke Berlin website at www.lemke.berlin.
