After months of negotiations, Fort Pierce has terminated its lease with Crabby’s Dockside Restaurant, clearing the way for the city to seek a new tenant while weighing how to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent and property taxes.
Crabby’s closed abruptly in February over the unpaid bills. Before ending the lease and pursuing the debt, the city gave the restaurant’s operator, Winking Starfish, an opportunity to find someone willing to take over the agreement.
A prospective operator contacted the city but sought more favorable terms. Commissioner Michael Broderick said the city needed to move forward rather than leave the existing lease in place…