Little Jim Bait & Tackle is ready to make history in Fort Pierce
Little Jim Bait & Tackle in Fort Pierce is on its way to become historic.
City commissioners agreed last week to move forward with the process of designating Little Jim’s as historic. It qualifies for historic designation locally, not nationally, said City Manager Nick Mimms.
“We have a chance as a commission to secure another piece of Fort Pierce history,” said Commissioner Arnold Gaines at the Dec. 11 meeting.
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The waterfront restaurant, bar and bait shop on city-owned land started a petition in June to “Save Little Jim Bait & Tackle,” which Little Jim’s said has been signed online and in person by over 20,000 people.
“It is one of the few waterfront properties along the eastern seaboard that has not fallen prey to modern development,” according to the petition, “and we want to make sure to save it.”
The process to get a historic designation takes three to four months, Mayor Linda Hudson told TCPalm this week, so she expected them to vote on it in April.
The historic designation keeps the city in control of the building and its property. It means if there are any proposed changes, they would have to go before the historic preservation board and be approved by the City Commission.
It prevents Little Jim’s from ever being turned into condominiums, said Commissioner Michael Broderick.
But he warned to be careful what you wish for because the historic designation, if it is passed, would be permanent.
“It warrants historical designation, and I support that,” Broderick said. “Once we designate it historically, it is historically protected infinite.”
Before the city’s 10-year lease on the property expires March 1, 2025, it must put out a request for proposals for the property. The historical designation must be completed before then because it needs to be included in the request.
“It is very important that we move forward ahead of that date and prepare ourselves for the next tenant or next utilization of that property,” Mimms said.
Most of the commissioners don’t want to sell the property, Hudson said, keeping another layer of control over the building and its property.
However, Commissioner Jeremiah Johnson, who previously pushed to sell, noted they might receive offers for buying Little Jim’s in addition to leasing it.
The bait shop was built in 1942 and served as a U.S. Navy guard shack and checkpoint during World War II. Only authorized personnel could go to North Hutchinson Island, where Underwater Demolition Teams, or “Frogmen” and later Navy Seals, were being trained.
When the Navy left in 1944, it gave the city the land and the shack, which became a bait shop and grew into the popular hangout it is today.
In July this year, Vero Beach native and country music star Jake Owen filmed a music video for his song, "On The Boat Again," at Little Jim Bait & Tackle.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Little Jim Bait & Tackle is ready to make history in Fort Pierce
