Investors Check Restaurant Possibilities on Ventura Pier

At least 13 potential investors, including several Ventura County groups and some well-known chains, have expressed interest in developing a new 5,000-square-foot restaurant as part of restoration of the historic Ventura Pier.

One potential bidder, Chart House Inc., is interested in opening an Islands gourmet hamburger unit on the site at the entrance to the pier, city officials said. The company already operates a Chart House restaurant in Ventura.

A large group showed up at a pre-bid meeting in Ventura City Hall last week, said Bill Byerts, the city official in charge of the $3.5-million pier project. He said proposals are due by July 30.

“We had 13 entities represented, but I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few others submitted bids by the deadline,” Byerts said.

Those seeking to develop and operate the restaurant may also apply for concessions to open a snack bar and bait shop on the pier, noted Byerts, the city’s parks superintendent.

He said the 121-year-old pier, which was closed in 1986 due to storm damage, is scheduled to reopen early next year, but that the restaurant probably won’t open until mid-1995.