News

By Jan Norris

    Two years is a long time to go without Pamela’s grapefruit pie, or a plate of Peruvian fish and pepper cream sauce or George’s famous chicken salad.
    Once the Ocean Avenue bridge closes, shutting off Lantana from the coastal residents, it will mean a longer drive to get to the businesses lon the other side of the bridge.
    But the business owners say it’s worth it — especially for things you just can’t get elsewhere.
    That includes the grapefruit pie at Pamela’s Pies and the creative birthday cakes at Cakes by Lara next door.
    Owner Lara Fisher, who has had Cakes by Lara for two years in the Lantana location, said she had been too busy with Valentine’s Day and the holidays to worry about the bridge closing.
    It won’t affect her as much as others, she said. “We’re really not a retail shop, but we do have things in the case. Most of my orders are for special occasions.” Her wedding, birthday and anniversary cakes are made to order, and people go online to set things up, then make an appointment, if needed.
    Brenda Wells at George’s Meat Market is more worried — a good deal of the market’s business is from the coastal residents. “We’re all a little nervous over here,” she said. As managing partner of the meat market for the last two years, she’s worked to improve the products they sell and has built a loyal following, increasing sales each year.
    “The majority of our clients say we’re worth the drive, and they have to come to the (Lantana) post office anyway. We have George’s famous chicken salad; it’s like no other. We make our own Italian sausages and bratwurst. For St. Paddy’s Day coming up, I’m going to brine corned beef just like George did.”
    They’re still mulling over ideas and working with other merchants in the area to come up with solutions, she said. A brief discussion about a water taxi, leaving from the Plaza del Mar and landing at the Key Lime House, seemed practical as well as fun, she said.
    “I was hoping they’d go for that idea. I think it’s kind of quaint. It would lend a tropical feel, give people something different.”
    It hasn’t gelled yet, but she said she may bring it up again to the city planners.
    “We’ve been talked about doing delivery, but we’d have to deal with the big issue of gas prices going up,” she said. It’s still a possibility, but prices they’d need to charge may be prohibitive.
    Ultimately, she said, “We’ll just dig in our heels and do the best we can.”
    Johnny Flewelling, the owner of the new Tapas restaurant in the former Bar Italia/Apicius space, said she’s really not concerned. “The response has been so great — our customers say it’s only a few more miles. They’re just glad they got to come and eat with us before the bridge closed.”
    At least 50 percent of the diners are from the east side of the bridge — and 90 percent of those have told her the bridge closure won’t keep them from returning, she said.
    They’ll launch a huge marketing campaign soon to put the word out on the Web and social media that they are open, have new owners and feature a new tapas-plate format. Wine classes in Spanish wines and some other special events at the restaurant are planned in the coming months. They’ve only been open since late December and are still working out wait staff and business issues.
    “We’re just going to keep doing what we do best — be a welcoming community restaurant with good food and hospitality in this beautiful building,” she said. “Already we’re seeing people three, four and five times a week — and we’re only open six nights. We’re pretty sure they’ll drive — it’s not that far to the Lake Worth bridge.”
    Here are other restaurants and businesses west of the bridge that will remain open:

Restaurants
El Bohio (120 S. Third St.) — Cuban cuisine with takeout.
Caribbean Top Taste (316 W. Mango St.) — Jamaican restaurant; lunch and dinners for take-out to order.
Friendly Greek restaurant (610 S. Dixie Highway) — Greek and Middle Eastern specialties.
Grumpy Grouper (224 N. Third St.) — Seafood, bar and grill
Kona Bay Café (310 E. Ocean Ave.) — Breakfast and lunch (chocolate chip pancakes are notable.)
NYPD Pizza (121 S. Third St.) — New York style pizza; delivery.
Old Key Lime House (300 Ocean Ave.) — Classic on the avenue, with seafood, tiki bar, live music and more.
Pizzeria Oceano (201 E. Ocean Ave.) — Organic, farm-to-table pizzas.
Station House (233 Lantana Road) — Lobster, seafoods, steak.
Station Grille (200 Lantana Road) — Sister restaurant to the Station House.
Sushi Bon Express (304 E. Ocean Ave.) — Fresh sushi and sashimi.
Tapas (210 E. Ocean Ave.) — Newly opened Latin and Spanish tapas restaurant in former Bar Italia space.
Victoria’s Peruvian (111 S. Third St.) — Peruvian cuisine.

Retail shops, markets
Cabana J’s (308 E. Ocean Ave.) — Resort and beach wear.
Cakes by Lara/Pamela’s Pies (640 S. Dixie Highway) — Special occasion cakes, cookies; traditional and custom pies.
Consignments by Sally (306 W. Mango) — New and vintage furniture and accessories.
Gemstone Gallery (216 E. Ocean Ave.) — Jewelry, accessories, novelties.
George’s Meat Market (125 S. Third St.) — Full butcher shop — fresh meats, prepared foods.
Jamie’s Classics (103 S. Third St.) — Consignment, specializing in furniture and decorator items.
Kim and AJ’s Oriental Market (316 W. Mango) — Oriental foodstuffs.
Kwik Stop (109 S. Third St.) — Convenience store.
Lantana Liquors (300 S. Third St.) — Full liquor store.
Le Petit Pan (123 S. Third St.) — French bakery.
Palm Beach Bakery and Café (206 E. Ocean Ave.) — Finnish bakery; lattes, cappuccinos.
Produce (117 S. Third St.) — Produce market.
Shades of Time (214 E. Ocean Ave.) — Sunglasses.

Services, recreation
Bar Jack Fishing and the Lady K (formerly B Love; 314 E. Ocean Ave.) — Drift fishing boats with private charters available.
Bliss Photography (219 E. Ocean Ave.) — Portrait Photography.
Del Mar Cleaners (304 W. Mango) — Cleaners, custom alterations.
Dixieway Auto Care (602 N. Dixie Highway) — Full service auto repairs.
Dream Machines (570 S. Dixie Highway) — Luxury cars, motorcyles, boat sales.
Hoochi, Koochi Wax Studio (202 E. Ocean Ave.) — Women’s hair and body salon.
Kevin’s Barber and Styling (218 E. Ocean Ave.) — Barbershop and women’s salon.
Mail N More (302 W. Mango) — Packaging, mail services.
Nails by Cindy (107 S. Third St.) — Nail salon.
Sun Trust Bank (280 E. Ocean Ave.) — Banking, with ATM.
U.S. Post Office (201 E. Ocean Ave.) — Full-service post office.
Walgreen’s (105 E. Ocean Ave.) — Drug store.
Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters (312 Lantana Road) — Diving equipment, instruction and dive trip planning.