Cape Coral's New Jaycee Park concession stand sits empty after another deal falls through

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — The future for the concession building at the new Jaycee Park is back up in the air after the well-known business group that was going to take it over walked away from negotiations over the weekend.

The Kearns Restaurant Group, which owns The Boathouse, was in negotiations to operate the concession building. However, they backed out, citing financial sustainability concerns and noting the lack of boater access and parking in an email forwarded to WINK News.

This comes after the first concessionaire agreement with The Reef Cape Coral LLC fell through in the spring of 2025.

The building sits empty while the park, which reopened a little more than a month ago with a new look, fills with the sounds of summer. Park-goers have mixed feelings about what should happen next with the vacant concession stand.

Elizabeth Stone, a Cape Coral citizen, expressed disappointment about the empty building.

"I absolutely love the new park," Stone said. "It's sad, it's unfortunate, because I would love to see something happen here."

Stone and her family had hoped to use the concession stand during a recent visit.

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"My husband and I and our 10-month-old baby brought a picnic out here last Saturday morning, because we wanted to enjoy it and play in the splash pad, and we were talking about how we wished that that building had food and drinks in it," Stone said.

The city is waiting for the council to return from its break in July before deciding what's next. Meanwhile, park visitors remain split on whether the park even needs the concession stand.

"I think you have to put it out for bids and see what comes along and see if somebody has some unique idea. I don't think I'd object to a concession," said Raymond Gaines, a Cape Coral citizen.

Jan Gill offered a different perspective on the matter.

"If people want that, sure, but people can bring their own food and beverages here as well," Gill said.

Stone expressed what she would like to see at the location.

"We love to have, you know, brunch or mimosa, even, and play some cornhole,” said Stone. “We'd love to see that turn into actually something we could use.”

WINK News reached out to the Kearns Restaurant Group for comment, but has not heard back yet.