Pier Restaurant Could Open By Christmas

Fairhope, Alabama 

Update: A citizen brought complaints about the marina operation/lease to the city council at the end of its last meeting -- similar to the ones in the comments section below. The council meeting video is published on the city's You Tube channel.


Blind Tiger Fairhope



 

BLIND TIGER FAIRHOPE

According to the city's building official Eric Cortinas, the 'Blind Tiger Fairhope' restaurant on the municipal pier could be ready to open by the end of the year.

Cortinas said he talked to owner Thomas Genin recently who said he was "hoping" to finish renovations by then. 

The restaurant received its alcoholic beverage license from the city last month.

The building is leased from the city for a percentage of profits; there is no rent while it is not in operation.

Genin operates several other Blind Tiger restaurants in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Other sources say it may take a little longer to get the marina area open, since dredging may be needed.


Fairhope pier.


Comments

Anonymous said…
doubt it.
Anonymous said…
It’s interesting that it has taken a long time to complete a few restaurants here- Blind Tiger, Ben’s Jr., the new Southwood kitchen.
Will all the development going on here, is it labor shortages?
Russell Hawes said…
The Blind Tiger has violated its lease agreement by refusing to operate a city marina , closing all 36 slips to boaters of Fairhope . The city is losing thousands per month by not taking over management of the marina .
Publisher said…
We recall the city approaching previous owners about taking over the marina; but we were told they (previous owner) refused to alter the lease so that could happen. The cost of maintaining the marina area is very high, due to damage by frequent storms.
Anonymous said…
….so if there is an issue with the marina, will the Blind Tiger open in December?
My recollection is that they did not have high-end boats moored in there when the marina was open.
Russell Hawes said…
Readers , please add “in my opinion” to the comment above .
Russell Hawes
Anonymous said…
All of this thrashing for the Blind Tiger's middling pub food. Bummer.
Russell Hawes said…

I could not present all I knew about the Blind Tiger on Monday night - 3 minute time limit .
I will post my comments on Fairhope North

Russell Hawes
Russell Hawes said…
Actually, my observation was that the damage to the boat marina was to what is called the sacrificial structures: the wooden railing and finger piers on the West side and the supply lines for water and power. The woodwork was finished within a week by the City crew. Although all the power and water was restored to the restaurant, the crew was told not to continue the power and water lines to the marina boat slips. There was no damage to the actual concrete wharf, which would have been the major expense. There was one damaged piling, but that may have been damaged before the hurricane.
I want to make this clear: TBT did not remove the sunken boats as some have thought; the past tenant paid to remove them. The scenario to me is that the boat owners weren't required to list the City on their owner's boat insurance, or their policies expired. This is a requirement for all marinas in our area.