Smuggler's Cove Tiki Bar & Restaurant

07/01/2022

Hoping to get started with construction soon. Looking for investors. PM me if you are interested.

03/20/2020

Just a short note to say we are still working on the FDOT permit and they say we should have "comments" back by the end of the month. Slightly concerning, because they did not say we should have a permit, just comments. But, we are used to this and will address them when we get them.

We have reviewed the plans for the kitchen and bathroom and all are good to submit as soon as we get the FDOT permit.

We have started removing tables to spruce them up and are excited to start getting things ready.

However, we had a recent situation where someone decided they could help themselves to one of the bar tops. NO ONE is permitted on the site until we get permitting, so if you see anything suspicious (like someone on the property) please notify the Sheriff's Dept. They are on alert and adding Smuggler's to their hot spot list so hopefully with the extra attention, we will not have that happen again. (They did return the bar top, thanks to a friend who happened to pass by and question his actions and take pictures) but still it is private property and we do not wish to lose anything more.

Appreciate your following us and hopefully we will be in touch with good news soon!

12/29/2019

Hey everyone, the holidays have slowed things a bit, but we're still working the gears. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

11/08/2019

OMG! Your suggestions are great. I love them!!!

We are just in the process of submitting the second set of FDOT Q&A and hopeful that we are getting close.

We have NOT selected a name yet, but discussions around the suggestions happen often. We do like the idea of bringing back old names, but are concerned about stepping on toes and will do our due diligence before making the final selection.

Thinking of a private party, maybe after the holiday season, for everyone who has been so patient. Can't expect you all to be patrons if we can't get you hooked early :) We would like to be able to show everyone our vision which will hopefully come to be a reality soon!

As usual, thank you all for your support.

09/27/2019

Still waiting on the FDOT permit but EVERYTHING else has been approved for the final site plan. It has been three weeks since I have resubmitted the documents so hopefully, we will hear something soon.

Met with the engineers last week about the buildings so hopefully, by the time we have our final site plan approval, the building plans will be ready to submit.

In the meantime, we have to change the name. Apparently, someone in California trademarked the name Smuggler's Cove in 2011. We are thinking Mermaid's Cove as it is similar, but checking to make sure it is completely free and clear. We welcome suggestions, but want to stay with something nautical, but keep away from the more local Pirate, Fisherman theme.

Sorry it has been so long, but I keep waiting, hoping that I might finally have good news!! (Has anyone noticed how many times I use the word hope in various forms in this short email :)

08/20/2019

Well, we finally received our FDEP permit(Yea!!!!!) and also our Charlotte County Stormwater Management Permit (Yea, Yea!!!!!). The final site plan has only two hold-ups which are being addressed. The revised landscape plan was received yesterday and the FDOT permit revisions will go in early next week. The FDOT permit is what is holding us back now.

Previously, the county's comments said we would need to work with the DOT to get their approval. Unfortunately, we did not understand that meant we could not get the final Charlotte County site plan approval until after the DOT approval was received. However, like I mentioned, the reply to their initial questions will be sent back to them early next week. We have already altered the site plan per their request so we are hoping that once they receive answers to their questions, their permit will quickly follow. Planning for the worst, it should take between 4-6 weeks but we are hoping for less.

We have also just found out that once we get the final site plan approval, the site plan then gets sent to the board for approval. I believe this is just a formality since the county reviewers will already have reviewed each of their respective portions, and so the Board's approval should be almost automatic, but we do not know how long it will take.

Staying positive though, that will be the last step before we start putting in for the actual building approvals. Like I mentioned in previous posts though, we are already working on the plans for the buildings and the engineering firm is excellent at responding to questions in a very timely manner.

Thank you all for your continued support and we are still hoping to be serving you a long awaited meal & cocktail yet this season!

07/06/2019

07/06/2019

Good morning Facebook friends :)

Strange request but.....over the past two years, we have been acquiring more and more things for the tiki hut. Our garage was overflowing and so we rented ultimately four storage units at what was Wo Nelly Storage. We eventually consolidated after moving wine barrels and bar stools to the tiki and the remaining two units stayed on autopay. Somehow, due to a clerical error, one of the units ended up being auctioned off last October. Is there anyone out there that knows who purchased unit 106 and what they did with the contents? It really should have been obvious to anyone living in the area as the unit contained bar stools, bamboo slats and bamboo garden border that we intended to use around the sand pit, amongst a multitude of other things. I will post a couple of pictures of the unit contents. We are willing to compensate the purchaser, but would really like our things back. Especially since it was a clerical error on the part of the previous management, and not our fault the unit got auctioned. The new owners of the storage facility are fantastic and working with us as best as they can, but I figured it was worth mentioning on Facebook. Message us if you know anything :)

06/29/2019

Good afternoon everyone!!!!

I keep waiting to have great news to share, but it is taking too much time in my opinion. Just wanted to take a minute to let you all know we have not given up :)

The engineer for the FDEP (who will give the final approval on the SWM permit) went on vacation almost a month ago now, and is due back July 8th. This, of course, happened just a day or two before we could submit the revised plan. Apparently, he is the only one who can give the approval. Once he returns, we should be able to move forward. The engineering firm has kept themselves busy with the bathroom and kitchen plans and once the site plan has been approved, we can move straight on to building permits. Right now, we can not even submit them until the site plan has been approved. And, the county's Storm Water Management permit is pending the FDEP permit approval etc. A very circular system but, I do feel we are getting closer to finding the path for getting off the round-a-bout.

The Health Department has given us a 90 day extension on the septic approval, so that will obviously be the first thing we set to once we get the go ahead.

The revised landscape plan has been promised to us next week and I will post it once we receive it to complete the picture of what is to come. It has been a long (and expensive, lol) road, but we are still looking to being open and getting to meet all of you who have kept us going this long. We honestly, greatly appreciate your support.

05/15/2019

Well, the final site plan is almost ready for it's second submission although most of the departments have given their approval already. Totally missed having to apply for a separate storm water management permit so that will take another four to six weeks once we have the final site plan completed, and then the FDEP and Army Corp permits can be applied for. FDOT permit is being applied for this week after a positive meeting with them last week.

The building plans are coming along well and the landscape architect has his checklist of comments to address and that will be done too! Overall, progress is slow but the checklist of things to alter is getting smaller and smaller.

Stay with us! I know it is frustrating as you all want this open as much as we do, but we are still moving forward :)

Posting a copy of the revised site plan for you ! Sorry about the quality but we had to print it out and take a picture for it to upload.

01/30/2019

We just signed the contract for the new engineering firm and they anticipate 6-8 weeks to complete the plans!!!! Hopefully you will all start to see some movement there in the next few months!!! :)

01/28/2019

Well, we are waiting for yet another quote to finish the engineering. They have agreed that everything seems close, just a smidge away from completed. I so hate to keep saying "stay with us" but......Stay with us :)