The Tribune

The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has described itself as "dismayed" by criticisms from a Bahamian businessman who closed his Port Lucaya Marketplace restaurant blaming high rents, arguing that he had been "unresponsive" to attempts to resolve the situation. In a statement sent to Tribune Business, the GBPA said in response to Jeff Butler's Tuesday comments in this newspaper that it had offered lease discounts to all tenants over the past two years. "We are dismayed that Mr. Jeff Butler, formerly Shenanigan's Irish Pub, felt compelled by the current conditions of the economic climate to make such statements. However, we have consistently worked on a one-on-one basis with each tenant and have done our best to address issues of concern," the GBPA said. "Major issues, such as parking, have been resolved, with the introduction of expanded parking facilities. Discounts on lease fees have been offered to all tenants over the last two years. In addition, we have always been accessible to the tenants to discuss difficulties and grievances. "However, for the past 6 months, Mr. Butler has been unresponsive to all our efforts to contact him to make arrangements on his outstanding lease fees." The GBPA's affiliate, Port Group Ltd, owns 100 per cent of the Port Lucaya Marketplace through its Bourbon Street subsidiary. "Due to its ideal location, the Port Lucaya Marketplace has become Grand Bahama island's premier entertainment centre. This growth would not have been possible without the varied offerings and commitment of its tenants," the GBPA added in its statement. Mr Butler on Tuesday told Tribune Business he had closed "Freeport's favourite restaurant" because it had been losing between $6,000-$8,000 per month for the past two years, adding that rents levied by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) were "double what they should be". He said he had closed Shenanigan's Irish Pub in the Port Lucaya Marketplace at the end of October, although minimal job losses had resulted, after he became "fed up" with recurring losses and no help from the GBPA. "It was the Freeport community's favourite restaurant," Mr Butler told Tribune Business, "but when the Port Authority put the rent up...... The rent in Port Lucaya is equivalent to South Beach. "I was the chairman of the Port Lucaya Marketplace Tenants Association, and told them: 'Look, the economy sucks, you need to cut the rent for everyone by between 25-40 per cent, but they wouldn't do it. The rent up there is double what it should be in these conditions." Mr Butler added that another problem at Port Lucaya Marketplace was the lack of parking spaces, saying the facility had only 200 when it required 600. As a result, most spots were taken by hotel workers and taxis, and customers struggled to park their vehicles. And he argued that Port Lucaya Marketplace was over-saturated with restaurants, some 29 all competing against each other for a market that has shrunk. "I got fed up with losing $6,000-$8,000 a month out of my own pocket, and said: 'To hell with it'. We closed it at the end of October," Mr Butler told Tribune Business of Shenanigan's. "Anybody in Grand Bahama will tell you it had the best food, friendly service at the best prices. How many persons do you know that lose $8,000 a month for two years and stay in business?"