Fire that gutted crab shack being investigated as arson

By CASEY CORA, Times Staff Writer
Published August 29, 2007

TAMPA - Calling the blaze arson, the Tampa Fire Marshal's Office is investigating who set fire to a vacant crab shack in the Palmetto Beach neighborhood.

Originally called Willie's Crab Hut, the 29-year-old business was once managed by Willie Crain, convicted of the 1998 slaying of 7-year-old Amanda Brown. Crain had stopped managing the market, situated on McKay Bay, long before the murder.

The business was kept in the family until recent months, when the Crab Hut's landlords sold the property at 1002 S. Bermuda Blvd. to a developer planning a retail and condo complex called Bermuda Vista.

Backed by Christian talk radio host Gary Gauthier, the development's plans include 74 condominiums, a mix of townhomes and lofts as well as 10,000 square feet of retail space.

Gauthier said he didn't know about the fire, but said the property "was an eyesore."

"I'm happy it burnt down," he said.

Electricity to the hut had been shut off.

"The dock and building were in very poor shape, such that fire crews could not get out to the dock easily," said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.

No injuries were reported.

Reading a Fire Marshal's Office report, Wade said one or more people started the fire around midnight, then took off.

The case remains under investigation.

[Last modified August 29, 2007, 00:28:19]