New management, old traditions at beach cafe

HOLMES BEACH — Dave and Debbie Foraker’s far-flung family members had one concern when they found out Anna Maria Island’s landmark Cafe on the Beach was under new management.

What about the all-you-can-eat pancakes?

“That was the first thing they asked us: ‘They didn’t get rid of the pancakes on the beach, did they?’ We’ve had ’em since, and they’re very good,” Bradenton resident Dave Foraker said during a lunchtime stop this week at the rebranded Anna Maria Island Beach Café.

The new operator, United Park Services of Tampa, renamed the Manatee County-owned restaurant and gift shop after taking over from the previous managers on July 21.

The takeover marked the end of a controversial bid process that saw county commissioners choose UPS over the objections of residents who feared an out-of-town manager would alter the character of the island destination.

And, yes, UPS has kept alive the traditions that islanders and visitors adore, like the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts, the Friday night fish-and-chips dinners and the sunset entertainment.

Since assuming control, UPS has remodeled the gift shop and inside dining area, tweaked the menu and replaced tables, chairs and umbrellas in the outside dining area, according to Chief Financial Officer Mark Enoch.

“I’ve had a few people come up to me and say, ‘We were totally against you and very vocal about it, but it looks like you’re doing a good job. We’ll give you a chance.’ And that’s all we can ask. We’re slowly seeing more and more of the locals come back,” said Enoch, who is renting an apartment on the island with his wife, UPS secretary-treasurer Debbie Enoch.

The 55-year-old Forakers never stopped visiting the cafe. They host family vacationing from Ohio and North Carolina, and everybody’s favorite spot is the cafe that sits just off Manatee Public Beach.

Debbie Foraker has been impressed with what she has seen from the new management.

“I like the new tables they’ve got,” she said. “They did a marvelous job fixing up the inside. It’s very nice. And the food: I’ve had four different things off the menu because I’ve been coming over the last three weeks. Everything’s been good, and service is the same as it was before.

“I just hope a lot of the people who were put off by the change will give it a chance.”

Cierra Lewis, a 20-year-old waitress and college student visiting from Ruskin, said she didn’t notice any change to the cafe, except that the French fries taste a bit better.

“Before they were really thin. I didn’t like them as much,” she said.

Lewis said she has been going to the cafe since she was a child visiting her aunt and uncle on the beach.

“We don’t have any good beaches. This is my favorite place,” Lewis said. “I like that there’s outside and inside, so you can sit outside and be in the sun or if you’re too hot because you’re at the beach all day, you can go inside and there’s AC.”