Prominent Properties in Gulfport Still Vacant

The occasional empty storefront is an unfortunate fact of city life; businesses open and close all the time. Gulfport is no different. However, when a prominent feature sits idle for a time, it can become a nagging reminder that the economy is not quite where business owners want it to be.

This is the case with two notable properties in the City of Gulfport; the former Dive Bar at 3128 Beach Blvd. at Shore and 2808 58th St. South, once it was a Bank of America branch. The bank building closed March 2011 and the Dive Bar, overlooking the landmark Gulfport Casino Ballroom, was closed a year ago this month.

The restaurant, on the corner of Beach and Shore Boulevard, is a two-story, 105-seat indoor restaurant and outdoor bar. Steve Donahue and Ernie Webb had opened the club September 2010, only to be open not even one year. Now the vacant building sits, still containing the barstools and tables.

The bank branch appears just as it did on the day it closed. Office furniture fills the rooms and the grounds are still maintained. It is as if time stopped March 11, 2011, the closing date posted on the door.

Yvonne Kane is a real estate agent based in St. Pete Beach; her sign noticeable on the Beach Boulevard property. Kane said she wants tenants for the restaurant, to bring new life to a central location in downtown Gulfport. She is confident someone will occupy the property soon.

“We have interested parties and we hope to get something worked out,” Kane said in a phone interview. “I can’t discuss the offer, but we are diligently working.

When an individual or group is interested, Kane said, she cannot discuss details, such as asking price.

“It’s a beautiful piece of property,” she added. “The location is fantastic and the ocean view is wonderful. I think someone with experience can make it work.”

Lori Rosso, President of the Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce, has not heard anything definite about the Dive Bar, but she is also hopeful changes will happen soon.

“Every time I pass it by, I get upset,” Rosso said. “There is no reason why there shouldn’t be a thriving business in that building.

“And it doesn’t have to be one business,” Rosso added. “The property is big enough for multiple businesses.”

The future for the bank building still remains a mystery. A special warrant deed had been filed in the Pinellas County courts June 2011, shortly after the bank closed. The deed recorded a transferred ownership from the Bank of America National Association to Pandion Investments, LLC. Pandion is based in Gulfport. According to Pinellas County tax records, the Just Market Value of the property was $300,000.  

Ernest C. Segundo, Jr. of Gulfport owns Pandion and the property is listed as the group’s principal address. A phone call to Segundo has not been returned, as of this writing.

“The interesting thing is that it is a full city block with parking,” Rosso said about the bank, “so that should have been snapped up.”

The business community is keeping fingers crossed that these vacancies be filled immediately and Gulfport can get to business.