Brett's Waterway Cafe Comes Down in Fernandina Beach: 41 Years of Seafood, a $12.5 Million Marina Project and a December 2027 Finish

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Demolition of Brett's Waterway Cafe began Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, marking the removal of a waterfront restaurant that operated for 41 years and the start of a major stage in Fernandina Beach's approximately $12.5 million marina redevelopment. The restaurant, which opened in 1984 and closed permanently Oct. 4, 2025, was known for seafood and views of the Fernandina Harbor Marina, according to Action News Jax and Nassau NewsLine. The city's broader marina project includes seawall replacement, dredging and new facilities, with completion expected in December 2027.

Demolition begins at the Fernandina Beach waterfront

The demolition began Wednesday morning after a short delay, according to an Oct. 29 report by the Fernandina News-Leader. A crowd watched as an excavator first took down a bush and then began removing pieces of the restaurant's entryway. The work marked the beginning of the physical removal of the former waterfront dining establishment.

Action News Jax reported Oct. 28 that demolition was underway and expected to continue over the coming weeks. The work is part of the city's larger effort to redevelop the Fernandina Harbor Marina and improve its waterfront infrastructure. The restaurant's removal follows years of disputes between the city and its operators over the condition of the building's foundation.

The demolition is one of five major phases outlined for the marina redevelopment, according to Nassau NewsLine. The overall project involves more than removing the restaurant building, with work also planned on the seawall, marina basin and boating facilities. City officials have described the redevelopment as an effort to improve resiliency, marina operations and public access to the riverfront, according to Action News Jax.

A waterfront restaurant that operated for 41 years

Brett's Waterway Cafe opened in 1984 and operated for 41 years before closing permanently on Oct. 4, 2025, according to Action News Jax and Nassau NewsLine. The restaurant was known for its seafood and views overlooking the Fernandina Harbor Marina. Its location made the waterfront setting part of the restaurant's identity during its decades in business.

Action News Jax spoke with resident Frank Postma, who first visited the restaurant after moving to the area in 2022. Postma described Brett's as a gathering spot known for its sunsets. His account reflected the restaurant's role as a place where people gathered along the waterfront, beyond its food service.

The restaurant's permanent closing in October 2025 preceded the demolition by more than a year. Nassau NewsLine reported on July 29, 2026, that Brett's had closed after 41 years and that parts of its piling system had fallen into the Amelia River. The building's removal became part of the larger marina construction program approved by the city.

Why the building was being removed

The condition of Brett's foundation was central to the dispute over the restaurant's future, according to Action News Jax. The news outlet reported that the demolition followed years of disagreements between the city and the restaurant's operators concerning the deteriorating foundation. Those structural concerns were a major factor behind the eventual removal of the building.

Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue told Action News Jax that the restaurant sat on old pilings and concrete dating back decades. He said the costs associated with repairing the structure and bringing it into compliance with applicable codes were too high. His explanation connected the demolition decision to the condition of the existing waterfront structure and the expense of addressing those problems.

Nassau NewsLine separately reported that portions of the restaurant's piling system had fallen into the Amelia River. That detail added to the documented concerns about the infrastructure supporting the former restaurant. The demolition also provides for a new phase of work on the marina, where the city plans to replace aging waterfront infrastructure.

The $12.5 million marina redevelopment plan

The demolition is part of a marina redevelopment with a total budget of approximately $12.53 million, according to Nassau NewsLine. On July 21, 2026, the Fernandina Beach City Commission approved a contract worth about $9.66 million with Baker Consulting & Engineering, also identified as Baker Design Build. The larger budget includes administration, inspection and contingency expenses in addition to the construction contract.

The project is organized into five phases, according to Nassau NewsLine. The work begins with moving boats away from construction areas and includes demolition of the former Brett's building. Later phases involve replacing the seawall, dredging the marina basin and rebuilding marina facilities.

The seawall scheduled for replacement is approximately 100 years old, Nassau NewsLine reported. The redevelopment also includes new docks, an over-water pier and a permanent fuel dock. Action News Jax reported that city officials expect the overall project to improve the marina's resiliency, daily operations and riverfront access.

The five phases identified by Nassau NewsLine are:

1. Relocate boats from areas affected by construction.
2. Demolish the former Brett's Waterway Cafe building.
3. Replace the approximately 100-year-old seawall.
4. Dredge the marina basin.
5. Rebuild marina facilities, including docks, an over-water pier and a permanent fuel dock.

The phases encompass both the removal of existing structures and construction of new waterfront facilities. Nassau NewsLine reported the project as an approximately 18-month undertaking extending into December 2027. The demolition underway in late October 2026 is one component of that larger construction schedule.

How the marina project will be funded

The financing plan combines state assistance, a navigation district grant, city borrowing and locally generated revenue, according to Nassau NewsLine. The reported funding includes a state resiliency grant of up to $4 million for seawall work and assistance from the Florida Inland Navigation District for eligible dredging expenses. The plan also draws on the city's line of credit, paid parking revenue and marina operations funds.

Nassau NewsLine identified those funding sources in its July 29 report on the redevelopment. The $9.66 million construction contract represents one portion of the approximately $12.53 million overall project budget. The difference between the contract and total budget accounts for additional project expenses that include administration, inspection and contingency.

The financing arrangement connects specific funding sources with different parts of the redevelopment. The state resiliency grant is associated with seawall replacement, while the navigation district grant applies to eligible dredging costs. The city line of credit, paid parking revenue and marina operations funds are also included in the reported financing plan.

What boaters can expect during construction

The Fernandina Harbor Marina is scheduled to remain open while construction proceeds, according to Nassau NewsLine. The project includes relocating boats from areas affected by the construction work. That relocation is identified as the first of the five redevelopment phases.

Nassau NewsLine also reported that a temporary fuel barge will serve boaters between Docks A and B during construction. The arrangement provides a temporary fueling operation while the broader marina redevelopment moves forward. A permanent fuel dock is included among the facilities planned for the completed project.

The ship store and construction office will operate from the boaters' lounge building, according to Nassau NewsLine. Those arrangements are part of the plan to maintain marina operations while construction activities take place. The completed redevelopment is intended to improve marina operations and riverfront access, according to Action News Jax.

What could replace Brett's Waterway Cafe

The future of restaurant service at the marina remains unsettled, according to Action News Jax. Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue said a new restaurant at the marina is possible, but nothing has been confirmed. The city's described redevelopment includes docks, an over-water pier, a permanent fuel dock and other marina improvements.

The possibility of another restaurant is separate from the confirmed marina construction work. Action News Jax reported Ayscue's comments while covering the beginning of Brett's demolition on Oct. 28. The report did not establish a confirmed replacement restaurant or operator.

The approved redevelopment moves forward without a confirmed restaurant replacement in the reported plans. For now, the documented work centers on removing the former Brett's structure and rebuilding marina infrastructure. The possibility of a future restaurant remains open under Ayscue's description of the project.

Project timeline through December 2027

Nassau NewsLine reported that the marina construction program is expected to run approximately 18 months, with a completion date of Dec. 3, 2027. The contract allows 478 calendar days and includes financial penalties for overruns. Action News Jax also reported an expected overall completion around December 2027.

The project follows several documented milestones, beginning with the restaurant's permanent closure in 2025 and continuing through the City Commission's contract approval and the October 2026 demolition. The five-phase construction program extends beyond the removal of Brett's to the replacement and rebuilding of marina facilities. The following dates and milestones were reported by Action News Jax, Nassau NewsLine and the Fernandina News-Leader.

The Fernandina News-Leader covered the start of demolition and previously reported the city's approval of the marina construction bid in July. Nassau NewsLine reported the contract, funding sources, project phases and scheduled completion date. Action News Jax documented the October demolition, the building's structural concerns and city officials' description of the redevelopment.