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New sports bar planned for Barking Shark

3 min read

About 20 buyers walked slowly around the Barking Shark Friday morning before the auction began to sell “the restaurant,” as stated by the public auction sign out front.

The goods up for bid varied from tables and chairs to fishing poles and bar signs, kitchen equipment to Red Stripe patio umbrellas.

Jim Woodring with Auction & Market, began by making a few announcements into a portable PA.

Once you win the bid on an item, he said, it is your responsibility.

“If you buy this chair and someone is sitting in it, tell them to move. If the chair ends up missing, it is still your responsibility,” he said. “If you buy all the A-1 bottles, box them up and take them. There is security on the premises, we have guys for hire to help you load anything up. Our only responsibility today is to sell this merchandise. Our only interest is to the seller. Please bid quickly; it’s going to move very quickly this morning.”

All of the merchandise has to be moved by 5 p.m., he told the crowd.

At that, auctioneer James Tate took the mic.

“Once I say ‘sold,’ you own it,” he said.

Beginning with the eight Budweiser, Bud Light and Red Stripe patio umbrellas on the back patio, Tate began is auctioneer’s song.

He started the bidding at $50 until a couple bought them for $15. Next went the patio furniture, all for $25 to No. 9. Penn fishing rods and reels went for $5 each.

The “Shark’s frozen cocktails” sign, a beachy, hand-painted creation, $5.

The two “Barking Shark” signs on either side of the back entrance, the ones that once greeted sandy beachgoers into the pub, $5.

A nautical rope, $2.50.

Tate began the bidding for the bamboo and plastic bandshell, working the crowd until he was down to $2.50. No takers.

“Would someone like to take it for free?” asked Woodring.

The bidding continued until the building is virtually gutted.

The auction raised about $1,100 according to the Estero Beach Holdings, LLC, which owns the property.

The restaurant is owned by Bill Keith, but the property is owned by Estero Beach Holdings, LLC. Bill Keith is one of three members of that entity. Patrick Ciniello and Jim Forrester are the other owners.

Discrepancies within the group are currently in court litigation and Keith is being evicted for non-payment of rent, according to Forrester.

Forrester, a CPA, and Ciniello, a restuaranteur with more than 30 years experience, are “moving forward to open up Nemo’s Sports Cafe” in that location.

Ciniello owns six bowling centers in southwest Florida that have the Nemo’s name.

“A new restuarant is in the works and should be open shortly,” Forrester said.

Plans are in the works to open the new establishment in January, he said.