Thompson to take over Jetties Beach concession
BY MARY LANCASTER
It seems the third time is the charm for Parks and Recreation. Marshall Thompson, owner of Main Street's popular Even Keel Cafe, is the new proprietor of the Jetties Beach concession after the most recent round of bids.

Marshall Thompson: "Jetties is a part of the community. I'm just leasing it out and I'm sensitive to that."

Last Thursday, Marshall was awarded the contract with a bid of $447,019 for the five-year lease, beating out Josh Harde who also competed. This was the third time the bid went out after the previous lessee, Warren LaBonte, declined to renew his option on the business. In the first round it was granted to West End owner Ande Grennan, who decided against the commitment within his 30-day grace period. It then passed to the second highest bidders, Brotherhood owners Larry Whelden and E.J. Harvey, who also opted out. In the next cycle the bid went to Thompson, who changed his mind at the last minute, but chose to try again after a clause requiring that a 10 percent cut from private event revenue be paid to the town was replaced by a flat $500 fee.

"I will go ahead with it. I will sign it tomorrow," Thompson said Monday afternoon. "They made a change in the lease that was significant.

"I've got a million thoughts," he said of his plans for the popular seaside stand. "I haven't narrowed it down, which is what I plan to do, but I will certainly do a casual beach lunch which has always been popular there, and [they] have encouraged us to do breakfast and dinner. We are thinking of doing one or both of those. For dinner there are lots of options, and I'd appreciate people's two cents worth. Jetties is a part of the community. I'm just leasing it out and I'm sensitive to that."

Thompson's original island restaurant experience was a summer spent at Steve Bender's former Sandpiper on Main Street where The Maury People are now. He went on to The Club Car where he spent more than 20 years before opening Even Keel in 2002.

"I loved The Club Car and came up to Even Keel - that's why I left The Club Car - I had an opportunity to have my own business," said Thompson, whose 16-year-old daughter, Marlee Starr Thompson, a member of the high school sailing team, may work at the concession this summer.

"The idea of having good food at relatively reasonable prices will be carried over. I want to keep it simple," he said. "A lot of nonprofits and people hold functions down there. It's a great resource for the local community and seasonal community. It's one of the most beautiful spots on the island, so it's nice they can hold

functions there." I