For now, all bets are off at Sponge Docks

One company has not been sailing for weeks. Owners of another property no longer plan to bring in a boat.

By KATHERINE GAZELLA

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 3, 2001

TARPON SPRINGS -- A few months ago, it appeared that two casino boats were on their way to the Sponge Docks.

Now, no gambling boats are sailing out of the city's premier tourist area, and it may stay that way for a while.

Athena Cruises, which operated the Victori gambling ship out of a dock next to Santorini restaurant, has not taken cruises out for weeks and its telephone is disconnected.

"They're restructuring," said George Billiris, who owns the property where the boat is docked. He said he didn't know anything more about the company's situation on Thursday afternoon.

Athena president Ken Whitcomb's home and work numbers were disconnected Thursday, and he could not be reached on his cell phone. Mike Kouskoutis, who has been the corporate attorney for Athena Cruises, was out of town.

Paradise of Port Richey also had submitted a proposal to dock a casino boat at the Sponge-O-Rama shopping and exhibit area, just a short distance from the Victori's dock. But representatives of Naomi and Sarantis Kitsos, who are under contract to buy a portion of Sponge-O-Rama, said this week there are no immediate plans to allow a casino boat at the dock.

They want to construct a commercial dock that would be 24 feet wide and 119 feet long. The dock would be designed as a pedestrian strolling area, said Cimos Angelis, an attorney representing the Kitsoses.

"There's no . . . attempts to bring in gambling boats right now," he said.

Larry Crow, a state representative from Palm Harbor who is the attorney for Paradise of Port Richey, was on vacation Thursday and could not be reached for comment about the company's plans in Tarpon Springs.

But Petra Ltd., the current owner of the property represented by Al Caputo, and the Kitsoses told city officials they have withdrawn their consent to let Paradise use the property.

Before making a decision about the Kitsoses' request for a submerged land lease at the property, city commissioners this week asked for one more letter vowing that Paradise's current application is no longer valid, as well as a few other details about the use of the property. Commissioners said they would make a decision at a later meeting.

"I would think the biggest concern would be a gambling boat use," Mayor Frank DiDonato said.

Several merchants at the Sponge Docks have protested the potential influx of casino boats. Anita Nehr, who operates the American Spirit flag store on Dodecanese Boulevard, said this week that she wouldn't mind if a "reputable" casino boat came to the area.

"If it's a larger company, a more reputable firm, I would have no problem with it," she said.

But she said Athena did not have a solid reputation in town, especially after some employees didn't get paid on time and passenger Bob Bowman is still waiting to receive $10,000 in winnings from the company. "Right now, it's just a black mark," Nehr said.

- Staff writer Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182.

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