Ticket Editor: Waterfront restaurant in Sarasota County closed by Hurricane Ian set to open
It's one of the best waterfront restaurants Sarasota County. It's also one of the oldest in all of Florida. Two months ago, though, the future of Snook Haven in Venice appeared uncertain.
Closed since Sept. 27 in anticipation of Hurricane Ian, the restaurant and live music venue located on the wild and scenic Myakka River emerged from the storm inundated by four feet of floodwater. Weeks after Ian struck, you still needed a boat and master guide to reach the beloved backwoods spot known for barbecue, brews and bands. The photos taken of Snook Haven showed the historic structure nearly swallowed by standing waters.
Now, though, it appears Snook Haven could be back welcoming longtime locals and tourists alike before Christmas.
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Snook Haven's reopening complicated by lease with Sarasota County ending
Justin Pachota and his wife, Cheri Pachota, run the Venice Pier Group that operates Snook Haven, as well as popular Venice destinations Sharky's on the Pier (opened in 1987), and neighboring upscale restaurant Fins (opened in 2013), as well as Siesta Beach Eats (opened in 2021). The Pachota family inked a 10-year-lease with Sarasota County, which owns Snook Haven, to also run that facility in 2013.
Pachota has said that their lease to operate Snook Haven runs through July 2023. In May, Sarasota County unveiled plans for the existing Snook Haven restaurant "to be demolished and replaced by a new 1,500-square-foot food concession building and an open-air pavilion designed to maximize views of the Myakka River," the Herald-Tribune reported.
The makeover was scheduled to start in "mid-2023," which is exactly when Venice Pier Group's lease ends. In early October, I emailed the county and wrote a column about how they should reevaluate the terms of the lease on Snook Haven and consider a one-year extension "before placing what I'm sure is a very lucrative lease up for bid." On Nov. 30, Venice Pier Group emailed the Herald-Tribune with an update.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
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Snook Haven restaurant in Venice could reopen as soon as Dec. 20
Snook Haven restaurant is now expected to reopen as soon as Dec. 20 pending Sarasota County Commission approval on Dec. 13. In fact, Venice Pier Group is allowed to begin repairs at Snook Haven immediately. The payment of all repairs will be made by Venice Pier Group "with the potential for rent credit upon Sarasota County approval," reads the statement. The agreement will also allow the county to continue to move forward with the future Snook Haven park updates, scheduled to start no later than April 2024.
“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,” Nicole Rissler, Sarasota County's director of parks, recreation and natural resources, said in a statement. “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.”
Yes, this is good news for all us fans of Snook Haven, an Old Florida icon right here in Sarasota County that dates back to 1948!
Snook Haven is at 5000 E Venice Ave., Venice. For more information, call 941-485-7221 or visit snookhaven.com.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Snook Haven waterfront restaurant in Venice Sarasota County reopening
