With The Loop Pizza Grill and Talon Marine LLC signing on as its first tenants, owners of Sadler Point Marine Center are preparing for more leases and designing a common area for lessees and community events.
Owner Brooks Busey and consultant Jack Shad, an urban redevelopment specialist with Windmill Consulting LLC, are working on plans for the central common area of the former Pier 17 marine store.
The architect is the Office of Architecture and Design.
Busey said the building was deep and he wanted to turn the center of it into a useful asset, such as providing a social and break area for tenants and an area that could be used for public events.
The city is reviewing a permit application for a $100,000 renovation of that area, dubbed “Sadler Commons” on building plans.
Preliminary designs show conference rooms, seminar/gallery space, and a café and lounge area with an outdoor covered patio.
“My goal has always been to open up to the public a little bit more,” Busey said.
He also envisions hosting training classes, such as boating safety and engine maintenance for boat owners.
Sadler Point Marine Center — comprising Sadler Point Marina, a boatyard, boat dealership and the retail center — is at 4669 Roosevelt Blvd, along the Ortega River, behind Roosevelt Square. Busey owns the property with his family.
That address might change to Lakeside Drive because the property, when first developed, was along Roosevelt Boulevard. Bridge construction later took the boulevard overhead and the marina now is accessed off of Lakeside Drive.
Shad is working with the city on the address change, Busey said.
The Loop will lease almost 3,200 square feet and Talon Marine, which will sell Garmin electronics and other boating gear and accessories, will lease about 800 square feet.
Busey expects the two businesses to open about April 1, pending permits and build-out.
That leaves about 7,500 square feet for other retail uses in the more than 17,000-square-foot center.
Busey said he is working with another tenant who will relocate and need up to 3,000 square feet, but declined to identify the business.
About 3,500 square feet will be available for the common area. The rest of the space is for building circulation, restrooms and general services.
Busey is considering various ways to divide the common space, but that will be determined “as we move forward and adapt to interested tenants.”
Shad said the Loop lease generated a lot of interest from prospective tenants.
“Obviously they will provide a lot more walk-by traffic for retailers,” he said.
The total build-out investment is estimated to be at least $1 million.
So far, the building has been reroofed. The facade was upgraded and is largely glass, with rollup doors, and the interior is wide open.
Preliminary plans show space for eight to 13 units, depending on the size of the tenants.
Busey envisions the storefronts not just as retail stores, but also as workshops. Tenants could be marine-oriented, but don’t have to be.
Sadler Point Marina Inc., led by Busey, includes his dad, lawyer Stephen Busey, and his sister, Durell Myers.
They bought the marina in January 2002 and the retail building in June 2010.
Developed in 1964, the store had been operating for years as the Pier 17 marine and Ship’s Locker nautical store.
Brooks Busey eventually gutted the building as he worked on plans to convert it into retail, office and restaurant space.
He had been thinking about it for 17 years, since he started working at the marina property under its former owner, Bronson Lamb.
Running a marina and being involved in waterfront commerce and events, Busey traveled to other coastal cities to see what others were able to do with their working waterfront.
He had expected two restaurants at both ends, but parking is a challenge because of bridge construction.
According to Busey, the state will let customers of Sadler Marine Center use additional space under the U.S. 17 Roosevelt bridge for parking, but the majority of that currently is taken up by maintenance work on the bridge until the project is completed in early 2018.
Busey previously said the single-story structure was built to add a second level, which makes it conducive to include a rooftop bar and restaurant space.
Outside, another idea is to host farmers’ markets and waterfront-related events, fundraisers, boat shows and paddleboard regattas.
Busey doesn’t want to stop there. He also wants to update other aspects of the marina property.
After the retail building is completed and leased, the next goal is a new showroom, parts and service building for its growing Yamaha Outboard and Kencraft boats dealership.
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