Popular Anna Maria Island restaurants have been sold to a Pinellas group

After 45 years, Chiles Hospitality announced that it has sold its popular waterfront restaurants in Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key to Pinellas County-based Beachside Hospitality Group.

Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria Island and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in Longboat Key were included in the sale — as were Anna Maria Bake House, the bakery for all of the restaurants, and an events department that organizes wedding and other functions.

All 350 restaurant employees will keep their jobs, as Beachside Hospitality intends to keep operating as usual, according to a news release. The transaction is scheduled to close July 29.

Chiles Hospitality will continue to operate Gamble Creek Farms, its 26-acre, organic-certified farm in Parrish.

Beachside Hospitality runs 13 restaurants throughout Florida including Crabby’s, Salty’s and The Salty Crab.

Ed Chiles, founder and owner of Chiles Hospitality Group, said during a phone call that he decided to sell because he still has his health and it’s a good time for him to get out and spend more time with his grandson.

He said that while the restaurant business certainly become more difficult post-pandemic, the past six months have been the best they’ve ever had, both numbers-wise and with the ability to be selective about staff.

Chiles’ focus now is on Gamble Creek Farms and sustainability.

“I want to work on the sustainability issues, the seagrass, building soil, keeping our farm, working on food as medicine and working with sustainable seafood,” he said.

He’s not out of the restaurant business altogether: He said he’s opening a new spot in Nashville, Tennessee, this week.

“I’ve got plenty to do,” he said.