Good News Re: Waterfront Market

Deal ripens for Waterfront Market

City expected to OK lease transfer Tuesday

BY MANDY BOLEN

Citizen Staff

KEY WEST 鈥?Change is afoot at Waterfront Market, but it is all for the good, according to owner Buco Pantelis, who plans to transfer his lease of the market to a national natural foods company that will keep the store%26#39;s name.

The Key West City Commission on Tuesday is expected to approve the lease reassignment from Pantelis to the Connecticut-based United Natural Foods Inc., which will assume operation of the business shortly thereafter, Pantelis said.

';Things are moving forward, for sure,'; he said Friday. ';It should be really good. There couldn%26#39;t be a better option.';

Pantelis, who has operated the popular and community-minded grocery store, seafood market, deli and produce wholesaler for more than 20 years, will ';hang around for a little bit and help out,'; he said.

The new owners will appear before the Key West Bight Board Tuesday morning prior to the City Commission meeting that evening. Once the bight board approves the lease, the commission must finalize it.

A report from a company representative will accompany the discussion, including its plans to continue and expand the business.

';We will continue to buy fresh fish from local fishermen,'; said Angela Langston of United Natural Foods. ';We plan to expand the deli area, offering more variety in freshly prepared foods, such as cold foods, hot foods, soup, salad bar and ready-to-eat foods.';

Langston also acknowledged Pantelis%26#39; commitment to the community, and said, ';We hope to maintain and, if possible, enlarge this commitment in our own way.';

Finally a salad bar in Key West! Yahoo!

Good News Re: Waterfront Market

This is really good news. Glad to hear they worked something out.

Good News Re: Waterfront Market

It%26#39;s one of those places that would be terribly missed once it was gone. I imagine more food to go such as the prepared food and salad bar will be quite popular with the waterfront crowd.

That%26#39;s excellent news.

Great news!! I am so glad they are keeping the name too. I doubt if the turnover will happen before we arrive at the end of the month, but at least I will see the ';old'; waterfront market before it gets turned over.

This is one instance where change is good.

Great news! Hopefully the changes that the new owners make to the market will only be positive. A lot of people, boats, and businesses along the bight rely on the place.

~Yay!! ,,,(happy dance...!!!)

a salad bar would be great

this is the best news yet. WFM is always on our list of places to visit several times when we do our annual NOv. trip. The expanded deli sounds awesome, I hope they keep up the quality of great food. Its yummo for a quick sandwich as well as more substantial fare to grill at the Eden HOuse. Wine selection also great.

Thanks for the update and great news!!!!!!!!!

And the city commission has passed this unanimously: The sale went through.

PS ALL THE EMPLOYEES KEEP THEIR JOBS.

Now THAT%26#39;S worth a round of applause/happy dance.

applause and happy dance!