Demolition begins on Brett’s Waterway as Fernandina Beach moves forward with marina redevelopment

Demolition is underway at Brett’s Waterway, a longtime Fernandina Beach restaurant that served generations of families for 41 years.

The demolition comes after years of feuding between the city and the restaurant’s operators over the building’s deteriorating foundation.

Brett’s Waterway opened in 1984 and was known for its seafood and views of the Fernandina Harbor Marina. Demolition is expected to continue over the coming weeks.

Resident Frank Postma said Brett’s Waterway was the first place he visited when he moved to Fernandina Beach in 2022.

“Fantastic sunsets. You know, it was kind of like a gathering point,” Postma said.

Postma said the restaurant will be missed.

The demolition is part of the city’s $12.5 million redevelopment of the marina, which city officials say will improve resiliency, marina operations and access to the riverfront.

Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue said the restaurant had to be demolished because the building was sitting on old pilings and concrete dating back decades.

“It was a great building, it was a great restaurant, it was an economic driver for decades,” Ayscue said. “Unfortunately, the costs to repair it and bring it up to code were just too much.”

Ayscue said the marina remains an important gathering place for Fernandina Beach residents.

“As citizens of Fernandina Beach, this is a gathering place,” Ayscue said. “We’re going to do a really great job of putting something back here that the citizens can be proud of.”

Ayscue said a new restaurant at the marina isn’t outside the realm of possibilities, but the city won’t know what lies ahead until the project is finished around December 2027.

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