Snook Haven Restaurant to close for the summer

The Snook Haven Restaurant located in Snook Haven Park, 5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice, will close for the summer Sarasota County Parks and Recreation performs maintenance and seeks a new concession vendor. The current, Sunrise Sunset Concessions, LLC has notified the county that they are unable to live up to the terms of their agreement and will vacate the premises by June 7. The public will continue to have access to the park including the popular canoe/kayak launch on the Myakka River.

Sarasota County Parks and Recreation and Procurement expect to have a Request For Proposal (RFP) seeking a new concessions vendor issued by the end of the month. “Our goal is to have a new concessionaire in place and operating by the time the busy season rolls around in the fall,” said Carolyn Brown, General Manager, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation.

In April 2011 the vendor began falling behind in their monthly payments to the county. Over the next few months staff worked with the concessionaire to develop a re-payment plan that would allow the company to continue operating while paying their monthly rent plus five percent until the past due balance was erased. “Their plan to pay an additional five percent each month was working during the busy season and they were able to pay back about $13,000 of what they owed,” said Brown. “However, recently they informed us that business had fallen off as they entered the slow part of the season and they would not be able to fulfill their end of the agreement.”

A default notice was issued by the county on May 7 notifying the company that it has thirty days to bring its account up to date or vacate the property. During the summer the county will maintain the property and make it available for inspection by prospective vendors.