The Lake Forest Homeowners Association is now partnering with famed restaurant owner Pete Blohme, better known as Panini Pete, to breathe new life into a restaurant the association owns. The association recently renovated the restaurant and renamed it the Back Deck, but it was a flop. The board's attorney tells NBC 15 News the previous management company was losing money so the board decided to go with someone who has had success in the restaurant business to turn things around.
"For a jockey to get a horse like this. I'm pretty dang excited!" said Blohme.
The restaurant is tucked away off Highway 98 and located on Mobile Bay.
"A lot of people don't even know it's here because it has been a club, and it's been underused," said Blohme.
Blohme says that's all about to change. He believes people will flock to the new restaurant for the great food and views.
"This is an amazing piece of real estate. I mean, this view is unmatched. It's so expansive and it's so beautiful and it's so quiet," said Blohme.
The restaurant will be called The Waterfront, and you can expect to see seafood, finger foods and po boys on the menu. They plan to open in March and have live entertainment, expanded hours, and discount nights for Lake Forest residents. The boat launch next door is also being overhauled, and there are ideas for catering to boaters.
"Hopefully, it won't be too long before you'll be able to come up on a pontoon boat, hang out, spend the day or come up and get like a boat box. We'll come up with some to go ideas where you can get maybe you know some beer and some great sandwiches and some snacks to take out and go enjoy Mobile Bay!" said Blohme.
As for another restaurant Blohme owns, Ed's, which has been shut down since the fire last year, it's relocating to where Beef O' Brady's is in Spanish Fort. Blohme says it's possible they may not rebuild a restaurant where Ed's is on the Causeway.
"We're really trying to do a feasibility study on what we could rebuild in the footprint that the new codes will allow us and will it be financially feasible to do that for a restaurant or find another use? We don't really know yet," said Blohme.