Page 8 - Abacoa Community News - July '22
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Page 8, Abacoa


        Town Of                                          Jupiter Welcomes Iconic Okeechobee


        Jupiter News                                     Steakhouse’s New Sister, Lewis




        By Jim Kuretski                                  Steakhouse, In Chasewood Plaza
        Mayor, Town of Jupiter
           The Town  Council                             Report and Photos
        has begun working on                             by Penny Sheltz
        our Fiscal Year 2022/23                             It’s the first time the
        strategic plan action                            Okeechobee family has
        items. Key progress                              opened a steakhouse in
        includes the following:                          nearly  75  years,  says
           1.Provided                                    third generation owner
        policy direction to                              Ralph Lewis. “We’ve
        staff about desired                              opened a few other
        updates to Jupiter’s                             restaurants, but this is the
        Comprehensive Plan.                              first venture into another
           2. Received an update on the Indiantown Road   steakhouse. It’s exciting
        Corridor  Master  Plan  so  that  Town  Council   for my family and for
        members understand the scope of planned roadway   myself,” he says.
        improvements, and the roadway network’s  traffic      Lewis Steakhouse,
        capacity limitations. There  are  new development   which will serve dinner
        projects (on 155 acres of vacant properties) that will   and happy hour nightly,
        be  coming to  the Town Council later  this  year for   has transformed the
        review/critique and possible approval(s).        former Giuseppe’s
           3. Continued to advocate that  Brightline install   Italian Restaurant space
        safety fencing before beginning high speed train   in the Chasewood Plaza,
        service through our Town. This is imperative to protect   located on the corner of
        Jupiter residents and save human lives.          Central Boulevard and
           On May 13, the Palm Beach County (PBC) Board   Indiantown Road.
        of County Commissioners (BCC) reached a joint       The new steakhouse
        funding agreement (for $108 to $126 million) to   breaks fresh ground
        implement major renovations to Roger Dean Chevrolet   in important ways
        Stadium (RDCS) and associated baseball facilities.   for the Lewis family.
        These  Abacoa  baseball facility upgrades enabled   Ra l ph L e wi s ha s
        PBC and the two host major league baseball teams   teamed up with three
        to simultaneously agree to extend the lease for the   longtime  Okeechobee
        Abacoa baseball facilities through year 2049. This   Steakhouse managers –
        represents a significant economic benefit for the north   Christina Wishart, Kyle                     Lewis says he has other similar partnership projects
        Palm Beach County area.                          Blake and Luis Fernandez – to bring Lewis Steakhouse   on the horizon. He also has instituted new benefits for his
           PBC requested the Town to consider making a   to life.                                          steakhouses’ kitchen and back-of-the-house employees:
        financial contribution to the Abacoa baseball facility      “It’s been a fabulous experience, and I’m excited   quarterly bonuses and a week of paid vacation in addition
        upgrades; or risk losing the Town’s rights to use the   for them,” Lewis says of the partnership with the three   to dental and health insurance. The steakhouse also features
        quadplex baseball fields in the northwest corner of   longtime employees. “I’ve told them, ‘Once we open   a special offer for birthdays.
        the overall Abacoa Baseball Complex. After some   here, you’re not working for me, but we are business      Lewis Steakhouse, 6390 W. Indiantown Road, (561)
        research by  Town staff, it became apparent that   partners.’”                                     277-9188.
        PBC representatives were not aware of the Town’s
        ownership interests in the  quadplex property and
        facilities.  The  following  provides  some  historical               Advertise in This Newspaper!
        background perspectives:
           1. The inclusion of  RDCS in the  Abacoa DRI             Check out our website! www.seabreezepublications.com
        only occurred because the Town Council agreed to
        contribute 25 acres of the 70 acres that the developer                            or call (561) 746-3244
        was required to deed to the Town, towards the land
        required for the Abacoa Baseball Complex.
           2. The Town’s Comprehensive Plan required that
        the 70 acres be used for recreational purposes and
        available to the public.
           3. The Town also owns the restroom/concession/
        storage building and the lighting that serves the four
        quadplex baseball fields.
           4. Based upon these Town ownership interests in
        the quadplex, the Town and the baseball teams entered
        into a shared facility agreement when the  Abacoa
        Baseball Complex was originally constructed.
           5. The Town is currently evaluating the conditions
        of its quadplex facilities to identify upgrades required
        to coincide with the term of the new extended lease,
        and the overall costs of such upgrades.
           6.  The  Town and the baseball teams are now
        collaboratively working to extend the shared facility
        agreement for the quadplex through year 2049. This
        will enable the quadplex facilities to remain available
        for shared use by the baseball teams, the Town and its
        residents.
           Lastly, Jupiter residents and visitors are invited
        to visit the App Store on your phone devices and
        download a copy of the Passport To Jupiter. This
        new “Passport To Jupiter” App should be used to
        learn about, explore and visit many of the uniquely
        Jupiter places and landmarks in our Town.
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