An iconic Cortez marina, restaurant and bar has a new owner.
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of the Shack, previously known as the Seafood Shack, during Thursday’s Land Use Meeting.
“Citizens and all the fishermen will be very happy that we have more boat ramps coming out with parking,” Commissioner Mike Rahn said.
County officials have plans to turn part of the 8.9-acre property into a public boat ramp, but what will happen to the restaurant has not been determined yet, county spokesperson Bill Logan told the Bradenton Herald Thursday afternoon.
The Shack, 4110 127th St. W., Cortez, opened in 1971 and sits along 1,000 feet of shoreline north of the Cortez Bridge. It went up for sale in May. An appraiser valued the property, which includes a 120-slip marina, 650-seat restaurant and banquet hall with indoor and outdoor seating, at $12.55 million.
In June, a verbal agreement was reached for $13 million. The following month, an environmental site assessment was completed, showing that it was acceptable to move forward with a boat ramp expansion.
Manatee plans boat ramp in Cortez
On Thursday, the Manatee County Commission voted to amend its budget and agree to the contract for sales and purchase.
The sale is expected to close in October.
“The site has the potential to increase the number of available boat trailer parking spaces by up to 25% countywide,” said Charles Meador, a county property acquisition division manager with Manatee County Government.
Vandyk Properties, which has offices in Canada and Sarasota, bought the Seafood Shack in 2014 for $4 million, according to a previous Bradenton Herald report.
Manatee County operates nine saltwater access public boat ramps with 17 launch lanes and about 234 trailer parking spaces.
Sherri Swanson, an ecological and marine resource division manager with Manatee County Government, said their assessment determined the new boat ramp would yield 58-65 new trailer parking spots, 93-134 new car parking spaces and marina wet slips ranging between 85 and 100.
During public comment, one county resident expressed concern over the other businesses around the Shack such as Cortez Watersports, Annie’s Bait and Tackle, H20 Watersportz and other boat businesses.
“I just want that to be in consideration if this property is approved for purchase,” James Morgenroth, Pirates Adventures of Cortez owner, said.
County officials said they already set aside $20.8 million in the capital improvement plan for the project. That money was originally allocated for the Peninsula Bay boat ramp, which was scrapped due to the final cost.
Funding sources to pay for the project include the CIP, impact fees and the county’s cash reserves.
“This opportunity came up, we can achieve the same objective faster and cheaper by doing this,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “And addressing James, who spoke during public comment, I assume the board will just act as a landlord and essentially create a revenue source by leasing slips and continue to lease space to those businesses that are already there.”
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