Anna Maria Approves Five-Year Lease for PIERadise at City Pier T-End
The Anna Maria City Commission has approved a five-year lease agreement with GSM Partners to operate a bait shop, bar and grill at the T-end of the historic City Pier, paving the way for a new chapter at the waterfront destination once reconstruction is complete.
Commissioners unanimously approved the lease during their June 11 meeting. GSM Partners, operating under the name PIERadise, is owned by Brian Seymour, Benjamin Sato and Jason Sato. Seymour and other partners previously operated the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop in the smaller building on the north side of the T-end before Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged the pier in 2024.
The agreement follows the city’s decision earlier this year to end its lease with Mote Marine Laboratory, which had operated an outreach center in the larger eastern building at the T-end.
Construction on the pier’s replacement walkway began in November and is expected to be completed in early July. However, city officials said the pier itself is not expected to reopen until the fall because restoration work on the T-end buildings has not yet begun.
Under the lease, GSM Partners will pay $12,000 per month in base rent, along with taxes and a share of utility costs. Rent increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index, capped at 3% annually. The initial lease term is 60 months, with an option for an additional five-year extension. Any extension beyond 10 years would require commission approval.
The lease outlines a family-friendly operation featuring grill-style food service, takeout options, beer and wine sales, nonalcoholic beverages, and a public bait and tackle shop.
GSM Partners will be responsible for furnishing and maintaining operational equipment, maintaining all areas of the T-end, and covering costs associated with improvements and build-out of the facility. The company will also contribute $10,000 toward modifications to the eastern building, including hurricane-rated sliding doors or a garage-style opening system.
The city, meanwhile, will restore the buildings to a usable condition comparable to their pre-storm state and will expedite permit reviews related to the project.
City officials noted that transferring responsibility for T-end maintenance to the tenant could result in significant savings for the city each month.
In a related action, commissioners unanimously authorized Mayor Mark Short to negotiate a contract with Tangerine Group for demolition and remediation work at the T-end.
The project includes repairs to the pier platform, remediation of the two buildings, and renovation of restroom facilities. Tangerine Group was one of four firms to submit proposals and received the highest evaluation score despite not being the lowest bidder. The company submitted a bid of $99,311.10.
The city has also issued a separate request for proposals to open the shell of the eastern T-end building. Two firms, Tangerine Group and Eason Builders Group, submitted bids. As of June 12, no recommendation had been made for that contract.
Once restoration work is complete, the reopening of the City Pier is expected to restore one of Anna Maria Island’s most recognizable attractions and bring new dining and recreational opportunities back to the waterfront.
