AB Bottle owner urges Atlantic Beach to revive Causeway corridor with events, trucks and sewer solutions

Tony Piccini, owner of AB Bottle Company at 311 AB Causeway, told the Atlantic Beach Town Council on June 15 that his business has seen declining revenue over the past several years and that the Causeway "feels neglected." He asked council for an update on an earlier beautification project and said sewer infrastructure — not demand — is the principal obstacle to attracting restaurants and other brick-and-mortar businesses to the corridor.

Piccini proposed allowing food trucks on private property near the Causeway to increase foot traffic and visibility for existing businesses. "He would love to see a Farmer's Market and a live music series," the minutes record. Mayor Danny Navey responded that the food-truck topic has been discussed several times, that existing brick-and-mortar businesses have opposed food trucks, and that operators often only work peak hours; Navey also said sewer infrastructure would need a long-term solution before the town could reliably support more restaurants or entertainment venues.

Piccini said he would not seek to directly compete with nearby full-service restaurants and suggested events and regular programming could help turn the Causeway into a walkable destination. Council took the comment under advisement and acknowledged the issue would be worth revisiting given changing economic conditions and the cost implications for programming such as live music.