SARASOTA COUNTY – On Dec. 13, the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners will consider staff recommendations for the reopening of Snook Haven Park and Riverfront Restaurant. The park and restaurant have remained closed since Sept. 27 due to impacts from Hurricane Ian. Snook Haven Park and Riverfront Restaurant buildings took on more than four feet of water for an extended period from Myakka River flooding due to Hurricane Ian. In discussion with Venice Pier Group Inc., PRNR is proposing to amend the concessionaire’s contract to extend services until early 2024 and allow the concessionaire to make the necessary remediations and replace furniture, fixtures and equipment to resume food services. “We know Snook Haven Park and the Riverfront Restaurant is a beloved place in Sarasota County, and we have been exploring all options to safely reopen,” said Nicole Rissler, director of PRNR. “Venice Pier Group is a valued partner that has served this park since 2013. We look forward to maintaining our long-standing relationship working with them through the transition of the park’s reopening.” Venice Pier Group will remediate identified storm damage and restore the restaurant, kitchen, deck, and dining areas to safe and functional conditions. The contract amendment will also enable PRNR to credit the concessionaire for repairs and remediation against concession compensation due to the county. “After such a devastating storm, we’ve worked hard with Sarasota County and are happy to come to an agreement that allows us to bring back the Ole’ Florida historic beauty to the restaurant while allowing the county to move forward with the scheduled remodel slated for 2024,” said Justin Pachota, president of Venice Pier Group. “We are beyond thrilled to share this fantastic news with our community. We’ve always had a passion for running Snook Haven restaurant and we are grateful to be able to open Snook’s doors again very soon.” The boat ramp, launch and adjacent parking areas have been open since mid-October. Snook Haven Park and Riverside Restaurant are located at 5000 E Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34292. Follow along online by visiting scgov.net and searchingMeetings On Demand, or watch on Comcast channel 19, Frontier channel 32 and Sarasota County’s official Youtubechannel. For more information call 3-1-1 or visit scgov.net. |