Bay Park Conservancy founding CEO provides details to County Commission
For years, leaders of the nonprofit organization that plans and manages the amenities for The Bay Park in downtown Sarasota have talked of the need for restaurants — not just to satisfy public wishes but to generate revenue for the upkeep of all of the facilities.
During an Oct. 21 update on the park for the Sarasota County Commission, A.G. Lafley, founding CEO of the Conservancy, announced that the organization is partnering with the Venice Pier Group on the first restaurant. That company owns Sharky’s on the Pier and Fins at Sharky’s in Venice, he noted.
Fins’ website points out that it is adjacent to Sharky’s. The website adds, “We are known for our steaks and sushi. With handpicked cattle and all-natural Meyer’s meat, we’re proud to serve the area as its premier steakhouse. What we’re equally passionate about is our Josper Oven, a hybrid between a smoker and a grill that uses fruitwood to smoke and grill meats and vegetables at temperatures ranging from 850°-1000.° (Nod to the juiciest foods you’ll ever taste.) Expect our sushi to be made with solely local ingredients and freshly-caught fish.”
On its website, Sharky’s points out, “Just one visit to Sharky’s and you’ll understand why after 35 years and counting, it has become a Venice-area landmark.”
The website also notes that Sharky’s was voted Florida’s Best Beach Bar in 2013, 2018 and 2019. The website invites the public to “soak in the sunshine and dine in relaxed style while sipping a refreshingly cool beverage. Located in the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the world and nestled at the base of the famed Venice Fishing Pier, our beach-front restaurant offers a stunning view of the Gulf of Mexico.”
The Florida Division of Corporations identifies Justin Pachota of Venice as the registered agent and president of the Venice Pier Group. The company has been providing annual reports to the state since March 1995, its records show.
In March 2020, Pachota took over the role of president from his father, Mike Pachota, the Business Observer reported.
As seen in a slide that Lafley presented during his Oct. 21 remarks to the County Commission, the first Bay Park restaurant will be have views of both the boat basin at the City of Sarasota’s Centennial Park and Sarasota Bay.
The architect for the structure is Sweet Sparkman in Sarasota, Lafley added.
The restaurant will be part of Phase 2 of the park, within what has been christened the Canal District, a slide showed.
Another slide in Lafley’s Oct. 21 presentation noted that the budget for the concept phase of the building is $5.8 million as of this month. Under the heading of Comments, the slide said the design work is underway, with completion expected in the fall of 2027.
The total cost of Phase 2 of The Bay Park is $65 million, the slide further notes.
During past discussions of park plans, Lafley has explained that the goal for the Conservancy is to take a percentage of revenue that each of the proposed three restaurants will generate. That money would go into the Conservancy’s operating fund.
Two more restaurants are planned for Phase 3B of the park, another slide showed. (See the related article in this issue.)