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Waterfront restaurant closes
Catches, along the banks of the Cotee River, was a popular location for community groups.
By JODIE TILLMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published August 30, 2007
PORT RICHEY - Catches Waterfront Grill, the prominent seafood restaurant on the banks of the Cotee River, unexpectedly closed its doors this week.
"CLOSED" signs have been put at the entrances to the restaurant off U.S. 19. A man who answered the restaurant's phone Wednesday and would identify himself only as the manager said the restaurant closed Tuesday for "financial issues." He would not elaborate.
The Catches property is owned by East Lake LLC, managed by Michael L. Lowe, according to county and state records. Lowe did not return phone messages Wednesday.
Other businesses owned by Lowe's companies include the Port Hudson Marina and Increte Systems in Odessa, which manufactures decorative concrete.
Catches, an 11-year-old restaurant known as much for its view as its seafood, had earned a reputation as a place to meet.
Several community groups, including the Port Richey Rotary Club, met at the restaurant. The annual Chasco boat parade starts near Catches, where the New Port Richey Rotary holds its breakfast beforehand.
The closing caught some by surprise.
"Don't say that. I love Catches," said Phyllis Grae, a Rotary member and a former Port Richey council member. "This makes me feel really bad. They've been so accommodating."
Catches isn't the first popular seafood restaurant sitting on prime waterfront property to go. Johnny Leverock's Seafood House, further south on U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, has been closed and vacant since 2003. There has been interest in redeveloping that property, but nothing has materialized.
Jodie Tillman can be reached at 727 869-6247 or jtillman@sptimes.com.
[Last modified August 29, 2007, 21:55:09]
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by donna
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09/05/07 11:45 PM
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sorry to see it close my family was to take me there for my birthday. i found the food to be great. sorry to see it go . by the way before catches it was a shell's restaurant. the only thing we didn't like that it was hard to get in and out
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by Danielle
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09/02/07 08:37 PM
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I don't know what some of you are talking about...I just went there this June and it was excellent! Yes, it is in a sketchy area, but Catches was the type of place we needed to help revive the town. No one complains about Hooters down the road.
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by jessica
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09/02/07 04:44 PM
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i love cathes that place was awsome !!!!! the food was awsome and so was everything else !!!!! i will miss cathes forever :):):)
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by Susan
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09/02/07 11:31 AM
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The food was gross. It always tasted like ammonia. Port Richey needs to add something like a Shell's or get a place with decent food. No wonder Bonefish and Red Lobster are always crowded. Too bad they had a great waterfront view and it's a nice buil
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by Kris & Ed Lundy
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09/01/07 08:58 AM
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Fane,Sage & Mark -
Thank you so much for all the wonderful memories.The 3 of you were the best part of going to Catches,always so kind & patient with "the family".Any restaurant would be lucky to have you on their staff.
Our best luck to all of you
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by alan
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08/31/07 07:37 AM
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never even went inside the joint i heard from day one the food sucked and was over priced...lets make it a niteclub for over 21 and under 50..there is no one around to bitch about the noise either,, ah some doctor will buy it and ruin it for all.
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by mark
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08/30/07 10:20 PM
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Have to agree the prices were high for average food.The area is run down and drugs and $50 pickups are commonplace. The business owners should share the cost to hire private patrols. Also can't you literally see that Port Richey people like buffets
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by Kristen
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08/30/07 08:02 PM
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Catches was once a warm & friendly place to visit.Their staff would greet & accomodate the regular patrons.
Suddenly managers told them they were "too friendly".
I don't believe an employee in the hospitality business be "too friendly".
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by bill
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08/30/07 04:48 PM
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I agree with red its a crime area. am afraid to leave my car in the lot. need more police presence in the area. the food was not wort the high price you had to pay.
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by Evan
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08/30/07 04:06 PM
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I hate to see it, but until Pasco County officials do something about some of these areas, I fear more are to follow. CLEAN UP and run off those sketchy, crack heads and bums. You may be surprised how many more decent people would come in and spend m
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by Dick
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08/30/07 03:01 PM
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These places just price their selvs right out of buisness
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by Jason
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08/30/07 10:41 AM
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Their food was horrible. I though Red Lobster is much better. That is not saying too much. The only thing they had going was the view. I think a Shell's should come and buy that property.
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by Kris
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08/30/07 10:22 AM
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I was real sorry to hear about the closing,I wonder if Mr.Lowe thought about this when he invested so much money in the purchase of Papas Rest.IN Tarpon. I will miss the great service and friendly people we meet of the yrs there.What about the staff?
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by Red
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08/30/07 09:37 AM
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I went to Cathces once and I stress once. The neighborhoods/areas surrounding the businesses on US 19 are disgusting and sketchy people are lurking everywhere. I didn't even want to leave my car in Catches parking lot. Give the Sheriff double!
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by Go East
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08/30/07 09:30 AM
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Gee, I can't understand why places along 19 are closing. It's time for Pasco to wake up to the fact that 19 is an unattractive crime-ridden hole and people who dine at nice places go elsewhere. I live 10 min from 19 & haven't driven on it for a yr.
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by pat
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08/30/07 09:16 AM
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wait,,,we have plans to meet there on the 1st of november,,darn it..
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by Chuck
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08/30/07 08:13 AM
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It's a shame that so people have been put out of work, but it's certainly no loss. The food & was completely ordinary and the restaurant had no character.
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