Seafood Shack Restaurant Closes

Written on May 20, 2008 – 4:57 pm | by Mike |

The Seafood Shack Restaurant in Cortez has closed.

The waterfront restaurant has been in business for 38 years serving grouper sandwiches, clam chowder and burgers but succumbed to the combination of high taxes, high insurance, economic downturn, and an upcoming bridge repair.

The humpback bridge on 127th Street is closing for repairs and Seafood Shack owner, Ham Jones, said he faced bankruptcy trying to stay open with low patronage, or close and lay off staff. He kept open the possibility of reopening in November if the bridge repairs are completed by then, and if the Anna Maria Island bridge repair closures reroutes traffic to Cortez bridge as scheduled for October - November.

The 700-seat restaurant has been on the market for some years, with contracts that fell through in 2002 and 2004.

The restaurant also operated a paddlewheel Showboat for dining and excursions, but was recently sold off.

The adjacent Seafood Shack Marina remains open.

Tags: Bridge, History, Marinas, Property, Taxes

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4 Responses to “Seafood Shack Restaurant Closes”
By Mike Harmon on May 20, 2008 | Reply

I came across your blog on Technorati. Nice site layout. I will stop by and read more soon.

Mike Harmon
By John on May 23, 2008 | Reply

I’m sorry to learn that the Seafod shack is closed. We have been visiting AMI for 12 years and always looked forward to their waterfront dining and great grouper sandwich. I hope they reopen.
By Sailgirl on Jun 14, 2008 | Reply

Hi, The Seafood shack may open in Oct. or Nov. 2008. If it is not sold. They closed on Mother’s day 2008. We are sorry to see it go. But keep fingers crossed that it will re open.
By Rob Glynn on Jun 16, 2008 | Reply

I am sorry to hear that the Seafood shack has closed . We were introduced to “The Shack” in ‘97 by some friends we met at Shorewalk Villas and have been back when we visit Bradenton every year since.
We were even hoping my daughter’s pre wedding dinner was going to be there, because it’s a beautiful setting wonderful food and a fantastic Long Island tea. Now where is my wife going to get one of those this year???!!! By the way Ham! How much do you want for it or where is it marketed, am interested…Serious!hallxschoolup@yahoo.co.uk

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