Good news on the Cape Coral foodie scene.
An agreement has been reached to keep The Boathouse at the Cape Coral Yacht Club for another 30 years.
The Kearns Restaurant Group — owners of the popular waterfront tiki bar & grill — reached a new deal with the city of Cape Coral a day before the Saturday, Sept. 6, deadline.
“It was a long road to get to the finish line,” Zak Kearns said. “We had a terrific call with the city attorney and city manager on Thursday. We ironed out the details and signed and submitted it at 1 p.m. Friday.”
It will now be presented to the city council on Sept. 17 for final approval.
“They have to vote on it,” Kearns said. “But I’m very confident. I’m so happy to work it all out. It’s mutually beneficial for everyone.”
What the new lease includes
Highlights of the 30-year deal include a minimum monthly payment of $7,000 (base rent), plus 5% of gross sales (including fuel) in years 1 through10, 6% in years 11 through 20, and 7% in years 21 through 30.
The city will apply $1 million in the form of a credit to the rent in equal monthly payments for the first 10 years.
It’s been nearly a year since a massive fire ravaged The Boathouse on Oct. 17. The charred skeletal remains left behind will be coming down very soon.
“It’s set for demo on (Sept.) 18,” Kearns said. “It could waiver, but that’s the date I’ve been told.”
While the city picks the contractor, Kearns will foot the associated costs of demolishing the existing structure.
Interim food operation in the meantime?
If the Kearns Restaurant Group chooses an interim operation (like modular buildings) until The Boathouse is complete and open to the public, it would pay the city a minimum guarantee of $3,500 a month, plus 5% of gross sales.
Before that would happen, though, “we have to clear and demo the site.”
“We’ve wanted (The Boathouse) down for months and months,” Kearns said. “Then would come the start of the marina project.”
With the implementation of that and all the construction it entails, an interim food operation may not be practical.
“We’re open to the idea, but it would have to make sense,” Kearns said. “It may not be viable. We need more concrete timelines. But we have until the end of the year to make that decision.”
If the Kearns elect not to operate an interim operation, the city could provide food trucks or a similar type of business for yacht club visitors.
The new lease also gives Kearns Restaurant Group the right of first refusal to operate a secondary full-service food and beverage restaurant on the yacht club property. A revised site plan from March 2024 shows a proposed restaurant by the parking structure, closest to the expanded beach.
The future Boathouse
In the meantime, Kearns has his focus set on the new Boathouse, expected to be “twice the size” of the old one.
“This will be stronger and higher up,” Kearns said. “And it’ll be able to withstand storms.”
He’s met with an architect and has a 3D model of the overall footprint.
“We’re all on the same page of what the enhanced footprint will be,” he said, adding that it “will go to the west side of the pier.
“In another few months, we should have a better overall idea of it all. We’ve been doing this for 10 years, so we know what works.”
The Boathouse took over KC Riverstop’s old spot and opened in May 2014 with two full-service bars, different seating levels, a private beach, 400 feet of dockage, live music and more. It thrived from the get-go.
It closed and underwent massive renovations for 10 months after Hurricane Ian struck in September 2022. When it reopened in July 2023, it was a “grown-up version of the (original) Boathouse.”
After damage incurred by Hurricane Milton closed it for a week, it reopened on Oct. 17, 2024. Shortly after closing that evening, it was destroyed by fire.
How much longer will it be before The Boathouse returns?
“We have to sequence everything with the master plan of the yacht club,” Kearns said. “We have to work in tandem with that. Obviously, we want to be back as soon as possible, but we have to be cognizant of what’s going on around us. Optimistically, I’d say a year, but maybe 1 ½ to 2 years before everything is open.”
Whenever it does happen, The Boathouse will be locked in for the next 30 years.
“I’m very excited for the future,” Kearns said.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Boathouse, city of Cape Coral reach an agreement. Here’s what we know on the 30-year deal
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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