Benny's on the Beach

Benny's get lease extension

A quick update from Tuesday night's Lake Worth Beach City Commission meeting--

The future of Benny’s on the Beach is back in the spotlight after the restaurant’s owners submitted a request to extend its pier-side lease through 2043.

Lake Worth Beach city leaders discussed the request during a meeting and ultimately directed city staff to offer an extension.

“This request is not based on what we have done in the past alone. It is based on what we continue to contribute today," said Dylan Lipton, owner of Benny's.

Beachfront and Golf Course Development Proposal

Commissioner McVoy shares letter from Law firm, Lewis, Longman & Walker P.A.

Regarding our beach

McVoy said that "It seems another commissioner (Mimi May) was wrong when she asserted that ‘any charter referenda would have nothing to do with proposals at the beach.’"

LLW represents the developer and they suggest referendum language in support of the Unsolicited Proposal submitted to the City on January 16, 2025, for the redevelopment of the City’s beachfront and golf course properties.

Lewis, Longman & Walker is requesting the following be on the agenda on the September 2 meeting:

1. Shall the City of Lake Worth Beach be permitted to enter into a 99-year lease over Cityowned property east of the A1A roadway, to permit the development of a hotel and infrastructure at the beachfront and casino property?
2. Shall the City of Lake Worth Beach be permitted to enter into a 99-year lease over Cityowned property west of A-1-A roadway to permit the development of a hotel and infrastructure at the golf course property?

If the Commission accepts the proposal in a contract, the Charter first must be modified to a longer lease term.

This is on the Agenda for the 9-2-25 meeting under New Business B to be voted on at the March 2026 election.

Read the letter

As I was unclear about what Commissioner McVoy had said about Commissioner May, he sent a text of explanation:

Sent from my iPhon Ok, finally getting back. I guess I did not write very clearly. In past meetings, Comm May has expressed that any charter amendments that the Commission would put on a ballot, ‘would not be related [specifically] to the Copperline/Horizon project.’ I was very skeptical of that assertion when I heard it. The letter that I fwded from the attorney for Copperline seemed to make it very clear that amendments, referenda, etc to be put on the March 2026 ballot would *exactly* be for the Copperline project. In my mind, that confirmed my earlier skepticism.

Oceanwalk Restaurant at the Lake Worth Casino

Benny’s on the Beach seeking $50,000 rent waiver from LWB during Oceanwalk renovation closure

BENNY’S ON THE BEACH is planning about $400,000 in renovations to its Oceanwalk restaurant at the Lake Worth Beach Casino complex, work that will close the restaurant from Labor Day until mid to late October, interim City Manager Jamie Brown said.

The restaurant is asking city officials to waive two months of Oceanwalk’s lease payments, roughly $50,000, “since they will be closed and have no revenue coming in,’’ he said.

When Brown mentioned the rent-waiver request at a pre-agenda work session June 27, a majority of city commissioners voiced support for approving it:

• “Benny’s brings so much. They're like our big attraction. I would allow that to happen as a courtesy,’’ Mayor Betty Resch said.
• “This business is a good city partner,’’ said Vice Mayor Sarah Malega. “They have a good track record. I think that’s a good return on investment.’’
• Commissioner Chris McVoy indicated he would vote against the request when it’s formally presented to the commission later this summer.
• Commissioner Mimi May said she would support the request if it’s limited to a specific timeframe.

Although there was no quote from Commissioner Anthony Segrich, Commissioner McVoy confirmed that he was the only one who voted "no."

Read Joe Capozzi's article

TONIGHT! Special Commission Meeting on Benny's on the Beach

AGENDA
CITY OF LAKE WORTH BEACH
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
BENNY'S ON THE BEACH
CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBER

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023 - 5:00 PM

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
A. Consideration and decision regarding the lease options for Benny's on the Beach, Inc., the current tenant/assignee

The meeting will last only for one hour and comments are limited to 1 minute.

Benny's on The Beach

Billboard on I-95

LAKE WORTH BEACH — With its future in the balance, Benny's on the Beach is hoping to strike a deal and keep the historic oceanfront restaurant open in Lake Worth Beach after city commissioners voted down a 10-year lease renewal last week.

"We truly believe 100% that calmer minds will prevail and Benny's will be here," restaurant owner Lee Lipton said this week. "We will do everything in our power, within reason, to make that happen."

Benny's on the Beach has about a month remaining on the lease for its pier location. Lipton said the restaurant's attorney was in contact with Lake Worth Beach's attorney, Glen Torcivia, and that conversations were ongoing as of Wednesday.

Source: Palm Beach Post

Petition started for getting Benny's to pay market rate

Petition started to get a fair deal for Lake Worth and Benny's

A Fair Deal For L-Dub started this petition...whoever is in back of this is unknown...probably a bunch of liberals/anarchists...bet on it.

This is what they say:
"The residents of Lake Worth Beach deserve a fair deal at their most valuable property on the beach. Benny's on the Beach, right on the ocean, should be paying the same or more per square foot than other businesses at our oceanfront property.

Benny's owner, Lee Lipton, claims that they are facing eviction, but it's important to set the record straight. The commission declined the 10 year contract in order to renegotiate and ensure that Benny’s rates are competitive to surrounding municipal properties, just like other successful businesses at the beach.

Did you know, if the city commission accepted Benny's offer of $42 per square foot, it wouldn't even match that of Mamma Mia's and the Lake Worth Tee Shirt Co.?

Here's the deal:

Mamma Mia's and the Lake Worth Tee Shirt Company pay $47 per square foot.
Benny's negotiated to pay $42 per square foot.

If two other successful businesses are able to sell pizza and sundries while paying $47 per square foot, then why can't Benny's on the Beach do the same?

Let's get a fair deal for Lake Worth Beach and Benny's." Lee Lipton negotiated with the city over months to come up with something they could both work with and was blind-sided by this commission at the last 29 seconds. And, on top of it all, they (the socialist Democrats) are using the fact against the Lessee, Lee Lipton, that he is a Republican. They will never get my vote even if they bully Lipton in paying more.

It's on Change.org...A Fair Deal for L-Dub