Town hit hard by resident departures, business closings
Since the death of widely respected partner in ownership Jerry Berry, the future of the Captain’s Wheel Restaurant in Bayview has been in question.
Widowed Carletta Berry wanted to take over and silent partner Michael McFarland, who purchased Jim Campbell’s interest, chose to rise from silent partner to CEO. Those issues are to be decided in court sometime in January.
What can’t be adjudicated in court is the dismantling of the local infrastructure. As developers flocked to Bayview a few years ago, it became obvious that at least some of the investors wanted to transport this lazy backwater into a mecca for wealthy summer water-sports enthusiasts. Unfortunately this included the task of getting rid of longtime residents, some third- and even fourth-generation.
Eight miles from the main highway, Bayview sits at the foot of Farragut State Park. First, the town trailer park, often referred to as an eyesore, was purchased and razed. The trailer park property was subsequently sold to James Darling, a former Washington State University and NFL linebacker. Darling has worked assiduously to heal community breaches and is continuously trying to balance his interests with the community.
Currently, he is building the first of three phases, involving about 32 condo units. The former RV park at Boileaus Marina was turned into a parking lot to satisfy parking requirements for some enterprises by developer Bob Holland. The Bayview Motel was sold to a former NBA basketball player about the same time. He turned that project into monthly rentals.
That project has crashed with the current economy. About four units are rented. We now have less than half of the temporary RV and tent capacity for tourists than a few years ago. The local economy has tanked. Many permanent residents have moved away, leaving the town a shell for the winter months. New condo projects probably will not help, as most will be purchased as second or vacation homes. The Buttonhook Restaurant has closed, with a reopening date up in the air.
Terry’s Cafe, owned by Chan of Scenic Bay Marina, may reopen soon for breakfast and lunch. The Patio, now leased from Chan by Scott and Jeanne Bjerge, has stayed open much later in the year, due to other closures, and will stay open throughout the winter. The hours of operation at the Patio are 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Cocktails are available at the Patio.
At Terry’s Cafe, lights are on again and remodeling is in progress.
One more stake is driven in the heart of Bayview. Losing hundreds of dollars per month trying to stay open during the slow months, the Captain’s Wheel is throwing in the towel for at least the next two months. The last days of this drama will play out after Jan. 3, when the lights will dim over the most stable full-service restaurant and bar that has existed since 1996. The possibly last hurrah of the Wheel will be New Year’s Eve, with ever-popular band The Keep performing.
Left open will be JD’s, a bar and the Patio, along with Ralph’s Internet cafe, which along with the Patio brings snacks to the table but puts Bayview into a category of not having a sit-down restaurant operating during this winter season.
Asked why this was necessary, Captain’s Wheel management just sighed and said there are either not enough people living here during the winter or due to the economy they choose not to eat out. Folks, it’s going to be a long winter. The hopes and prayers of local residents continue to come up negative as the cards are turning up as a pair of deuces.