Wheelhouse Restaurant construction on-going

January 11, 2014 Wheelhouse Restaurant construction on-going

Mary Meaux The Port Arthur News The Port Arthur News Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:47 PM CST

PORT NECHES Construction of the Neches River Wheelhouse restaurant is moving along at a steady pace with a possible opening date in late March.

Bert Lamson, one of a group of private investors in the project, said recent rainy days have slowed down the construction a bit but not much.

The building is almost dried in and the parking lot has been poured, Lamson said of the restaurant to be located at 720 Lee St. adjacent to Port Neches Riverfront Park. Once the building is dried in and weather-proofed we will start working on the inside.

The investors are also mulling over the menu for the new restaurant that will serve Cajun/seafood type food as well as burgers and po boys.

Once open, the restaurant will have a maximum occupancy of 260 people and feature a 12-foot porch in front as well as another 12-foot porch on top.

The idea of a waterfront restaurant was brought to the Riverfront Development Authority in May by Lamson. From there, the issue went to city council, the planning and zoning commission and the citys economic development corporation.

In August, the city conveyed the property to the Port Neches Economic Development Corporation, as per government code, then sold the 2.5 acres of land for $1 to the investment group. The land is appraised at about $550,000.

E-mail: mmeaux@panews.com

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Wheelhouse Restaurant construction on-going