DDA Lures Ezra Cafe Downtown With $250K In Incentives

Fine dining is coming to downtown Bradenton thanks to a $250,000 incentive package from the Downtown Development Authority.

, 5629 Manatee Ave. W., is on the verge of relocating to the first floor of the SunTrust Building on Third Avenue West after the DDA on Thursday agreed to cover $150,000 in construction costs and provide another $100,000 in rent subsidies.

Mayor Wayne Poston said the agreement is "a little out of the box" but a necessary step in luring more people downtown and revitalizing the area.

"We need three more restaurants downtown," Poston said. "We would love to have them downtown, and this is an opportunity to get them."

City Clerk Carl Callahan also spoke in favor of the move and said the DDA has the funds available, both short- and long-term, to cover the project.

Ezra Cafe will move into 4,523 square feet of first-floor space at the SunTrust building, 1001 3rd Ave. W. Part of the location had previously been occupied by , which closed about two months ago.

Owner Donna Eason, a Manatee High graduate, has plans for both lunch and dinner service, plus take-out and a retail cookie business at the new location.

"We are truly appreciative of the opportunity to be included in the development of downtown Bradenton," Eason said. "I have a lot of what I hope to be great ideas that will expand both our business and bring people to the area."

Construction costs have been estimated at $320,013.16, of which the DDA will pay about half. It will also contribute four yearly installments of $25,000 each toward the restaurant's rent. The deal is contingent upon Ezra Cafe signing a lease with the building's owner and includes a "burn-out" clause under which the restaurant will have to repay the DDA if it goes out of business or changes owners within four years.

Ron Allen, a majority owner of the SunTrust Building, said the move will bring the seven-story building up to about 90 percent capacity. The building has been up for sale with a list price of $11.75 million, but Allen said he is not aggressively marketing it and that "our intent is not to go anywhere."

The restaurant is expected to open in June or July, Allen said.

Proponents of the deal, approved 5-0 Thursday by the DDA board, said it's the first step in bringing more activity to the downtown area.

"I think this is an amazing opportunity for the city and that it is something we can all be very, very proud of," board chair Will Robinson said. "We're bringing a name business with a great reputation into our city."