Another business has apparently joined those competing to develop the space at the end of the Seal Beach Pier.
Randy Hiatt, a representative of Fessel International, presented a proposal from the owners of the Original Fish Company to the Monday evening, Feb. 10, City Council meeting.
To date, this is the first proposal for the pier space that has been made in a public forum.
Hiatt was given 5 minutes during the public comment segment of the council’s study session on the City Charter. After the meeting, the council met in closed session to discuss real estate negotiations for the former Ruby’s location at the end of the pier.
According to Hiatt, his client was proposing two restaurants, one on each floor of a new building that would replace the one that housed Ruby’s Diner until January 2013.
The upstairs restaurant would be OFC Off the Hook, and the downstairs would be OFC Quick.
Hiatt said that both restaurants were owned by the same people who owned the Original Fish Company.
He told the council that the public would be comfortable with their families in both restaurants.
The project would include a tram service for the pier.
Hiatt said the estimated cost of the project would be $2.8 million. He said his client expected to make the money back in 10 years. He described the restaurant business as “high risk.”
Hiatt said the owners would pay $7,500 a month rent versus 5 percent when sales exceeded $150,000. He said they were proposing a 20-year lease.
District Five Councilman Michael Levitt expressed concern about a project condition that would give the owners exclusivity for the pier and businesses within 500 feet of the foot of the pier.
“We have businesses along the whole area that are obviously within 500 feet of the pier,” Levitt said.
Asked if the owners were proposing to eliminate the existing businesses, Hiatt said no.
He also said the city could convert the police substation near the pier entrance and that would obviously be a competitor with the restaurant at the end of the pier.
Hiatt told the Sun that they sent the first letter of intent to Seal Beach in October and sent a revised letter of intent in November.
He said Wendy Rothman, Seal Beach resident and Original Fish Company Owner, lived near the pier and had been involved with the pier for years.
Later, the council adjourned for a closed session. According to the agenda, they were discussing real estate negotiations for the pier space. The parties identified on the agenda were MDK and Off the Hook.
Jim Basham, director of Community Development, said he could not answer a question about whether the city was still negotiating with other businesses that were interested in the location.
The council met in closed session on Monday, Jan. 27, to discuss real estate negotiations with MDK, Fessel International and Bluewater for developing the pier space. Neither Fessel International nor Bluewater was on the Feb. 10 agenda.
However, one of the co-owners of Bluewater Grills said the city was considering their proposal.
Jim Ulicickas said they hadn’t heard from the city since submitting a conceptual proposal in November.
He said city officials had to look at the budget.
“They were very enthusiastic about our proposal,” Ulicickas said.
Ulicickas said Bluewater had been in discussion with Seal Beach officials since Ruby’s closed.
He said he was aware of the Feb. 10 presentation to the council. He said the building that once housed Ruby’s was in poor repair.
According to Ulicickas, the project would need to be approved by the Department of Fish and Game as well as the California Coastal Commission.
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