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City outlines $250K–$300K concept to turn Hopewell Marina store into waterside restaurant and event space
Summary
City staff presented a concept to renovate the Hopewell City Marina store into a waterside restaurant, pavilion and event space; initial city estimate for structural improvements is $250,000–$300,000, with projected annual meals-tax revenue of $30,000–$50,000 and a separate dredging estimate of about $175,000.
City economic-development staff on Tuesday presented a conceptual plan to convert the 2014 Marina store into a waterside restaurant and year‑round pavilion designed to support tourism and events.
The concept, presented by the community-development director, would renovate the roughly 1,000-square-foot store into a mixed-use facility with indoor and outdoor seating, restrooms that meet code, kitchen space, and a raised metal-roof pavilion to withstand river winds. Renderings shared with the council show a deck addition elevated above floodplain piles and accessible walkways. An architect’s design would offset the deck so it ties into existing walkways while avoiding an on-site sanitary line that must remain accessible for maintenance.
Staff provided a rough order-of-magnitude cost of $250,000–$300,000 for structural improvements required to add bathrooms and a kitchen (the figure excludes appliances and operator equipment). The city would own the improvements and seek a private operator to run food and beverage operations under a lease; staff emphasized the intent is not for the city to operate the restaurant. The presentation estimated incremental meals-tax revenue of $30,000–$50,000 per year from a roughly 73-seat operation with two table turns on busy days. Bennett, the presenter, said the marina operations have produced about $100,000 in fees this fiscal year and that the city has reinvested in dock and boardwalk repairs.
Other capital needs the council discussed included dredging the canal behind the store (estimated at $175,000) and structural upgrades to boat ramps. Council members pressed for planning that would preserve access for slip holders and allow for future expansion where elevation and floodplain rules permit. Bennett said the city owns nearly six acres of waterfront property and that constraints in the flood plain make design choices important; the deck would be built on poles about six feet above grade.
What’s next: staff will take council feedback, consider funding and leasing strategies, and return with more detailed cost estimates and implementation steps in a subsequent meeting.
