BRADENTON BEACH – Due to popular demand and the desire to provide a continued public service, Wednesday morning’s Pier Team meeting is expected to include a discussion on the possibility of leasing the pier-based restaurant space, bait shop and concession stand as separate entities.

This could then result in future city commission discussion as the pier lease and request for proposal process moves forward.

Multiple parties have expressed interest in immediately leasing the bait shop and concession space vacated Sunday by former pier tenant and Cast-n-Cage restaurant owner Roland Pena.

Some city officials have also expressed a desire for continued bait shop operations in order to serve those who frequent the city’s newly-renovated fishing pier.

For the past few weeks, anchorage resident John Maguire has been selling shrimp and other live bait out of the Rusty Anchor bait shop space previously operated by Pena’s business partner Rusty Roberts.

Police Chief Sam Speciale was aware of Maguire's recent efforts and told him to discontinue his bait sales at the conclusion of the business day on Sunday.

On Monday, the Penas forfeited their rights to occupy the three city-owned structures located at the foot of the recently renovated Historic Bridge Street Pier.

What next?

The bait shop space stood idle for many months, beginning in August when the pier renovations began. It then remained shuttered long after the pier reopened in January and it was only recently that Maguire began selling bait at that location, after he received permission from the pier tenants to do so.

In recent weeks others have also expressed interest in leasing the bait shop and concession stand as separate stand-alone operations; which they hope to do while the search for a new restaurant tenant is conducted.

During previous city meetings, the commission agreed the next restaurant tenant would lease and control all three structures, yet have the ability to sublet the smaller structures if desired.

This approach was favored because the city would only have to deal with one primary tenant, who in turn would be responsible for any rent payments or fees owed by those subletting the smaller structures.

If the commission finds merit in the idea of offering the bait shop, concession stand and restaurant space to different parties, the recently modified pier lease would have to be amended.

This development could also impact the request for proposal process that is on the agenda for discussion at Thursday evening’s commission meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.