Beach Theater owner Steve Boge will present his plans for the future of the 2-level restaurant and bar at 6425 Estero Boulevard to the LPA Today. We will carry the LPA meeting live beginning at 9AM.
The property, for many years, the only movie theater on the island. Boge is proposing redeveloping the property as a restaurant and bar on the first level above flood and a bar with games and entertainment area on the open ground floor. The second story above flood will be used for storage and office space. There are no plans to continue showing movies.
Boge is also proposing changes to the building exterior, including: a deck with shade structure for restaurant seating on the first level above flood, that extends toward Estero Blvd approximately 15 feet, a wall along the rear of the building on the first floor to block sounds and light from the bar and entertainment area to the adjacent single-family residential property, a buffer with a fence along the property line adjacent to the single family residential property, and landscaping.
Boge will be asking for special exceptions to allow outdoor entertainment, to be able to serve alcohol outside, and for outdoor seating. He’ll need to ask for those due to the proximity of residential neighborhoods. Based on his plans, current town code would require Boge to have 115 parking spaces. He’s asking for a variance to allow him to have 33 spaces. The space under the building, which Boge wants to convert to an outdoor bar, was used for parking for the theater.
Town staff recommends approving the special exceptions for outdoor seating and serving alcohol outside but recommends denial for the outdoor entertainment request and recommends denial for the parking reduction variance.
Nick Campo owned the Beach Theater from 1999 until he sold it to Boge. The theater closed in May of 2022 when Boge purchased the building for $4 million, and was contemplating what to do with it. Then, of course, Hurricane Ian changed and delayed everything. Boge’s ownership group also purchased the 34-room Gulfview Manor Resort as part of the deal. The total for both properties was $19 million.
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You should lease it to South Beach grill.
SB is going back into Santini