Interest in re-opening the Colonial Spanish Quarter

The St. Augustine Report indicated today that Pat Croce & Company, St. Augustine Historical Tours, Inc., and Orlando Dinner Entertainment, Inc. have expressed initial interest in operating the Colonial Spanish Quarter, if contract terms can be reached.

The City closed the Colonial Spanish Quarter on October 1st as they were faced with a projected $700,000 operating deficit.

The city previously operated the Quarter under agreement with the University of Florida; and still operates The Taberna de Gallo and The Quarter Gift Shop, which are reportedly moneymakers.

The University of Florida, which manages all state-owned historic properties here, including the Spanish Quarter, has reviewed and approved responses to an initial “Request for Qualifications” submitted by the three private companies.

At their regular meeting Monday night, the St. Augustine City Commission will hear from Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield; who will ask for approval to proceed to the next phase – likely an Invitation to Negotiate.

The individual qualifications of the potential bidders will be aired during Monday’s meeting.

Both Croce (Pirate and Treasure Museum) and St. Augustine Historical Tours (green trolleys) have tourism operations here; Orlando Dinner Entertainment, Inc., operates a pirate-themed dinner theatre along Orlando’s International Drive corridor.

If you are planning to attend — the regular St. Augustine City Commission meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. Monday and will be held in the Alcazar Room; on the first floor of City Hall, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine. It will be broadcast live on Comcast Government TV (Cable Channel 3) and is streamed over the Internet.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer