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Eatery Looks At Heritage Isles

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

HERITAGE ISLES - The owners of a family-run barbecue stand at Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road want to reopen the restaurant at the Heritage Isles Clubhouse.

Ernest Kennedy Sr. and his son, Ernest Jr., co-owners of Kennedy Barbecue, located in the Shell Station parking lot, have talked to Heritage Isles Community Development District supervisors about the possibility of leasing the 4,000-square-foot restaurant and kitchen.

"We expect this place will be jumping," Ernest Kennedy Sr. said, referring to the restaurant drawing large crowds, if an agreement can be reached.

The CDD board members asked the Kennedys Jan. 28 to submit a formal proposal. They also requested the Kennedys to list what they would consider to be fair and reasonable rent based on the space and projected gross revenues for food and liquor sales.

Board supervisor Barbara Adams also encouraged the Kennedys to conduct a formal neighborhood study to gauge the interest of residents.

The Kennedys and their accountant, Thomas Johnson, agreed to have a detailed plan ready by this week.

The underperforming restaurant at the Heritage Isles Clubhouse has taken a toll on the district over the years, contributing to the board's inability to meet its financial obligations to its bondholders.

The CDD shut down the kitchen in November and reduced service at the Seabreeze Cafe. The dining room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. but offers a limited menu of sandwiches, hot dogs and beverages.

Ernest Kennedy Sr. said if he wins the contract, the restaurant would be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to serve lunch and dinner, with plans to add breakfast hours within two months.
District supervisors have long pondered leasing or selling the restaurant operation. They directed district manager John Ricciardi to place a local newspaper advertisement seeking proposals from companies interested in leasing the restaurant.

The Kennedys were the only business owners to respond to the district's most recent request.

In other news, the CDD approved moving the start time for monthly meetings up one hour to begin at noon, starting this month. Board workshops will be held the second and fourth Tuesday monthly in February, March and April.

Heritage Isles is now set up for wireless Internet service.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842.

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