Stan Zimmerman
Published August 5, 2009
The "new" Ringling Causeway, completed in 1956, shows Bird Key and Plymouth Harbor still in the future. The present Hart's Landing wasn't built until 1964. The old causeway had landed on Golden Gate Point (center right).
One of Sarasota's oldest businesses turns 75 this year. It was established in 1934, when 19-year-old Deamus Hart built a bait box on Golden Gate Point and started selling shrimp to fishermen. "They'd build a fire on the beach at night, and the light would attract the shrimp," said Deamus' son Dennis. "They'd go dip net ‘em and put ‘em in the box." The business was at the foot of the original John Ringling Causeway.
After the "new" causeway was built, the city passed a bond to build a seawall around the eastern approach to create a park, ramps and docks. And it paid almost $9,000 to build a bait house in 1964. Deamus leased it, and it's still in operation today.
His son Dennis kept the business going when his dad died in 1973. The bait house has always employed local kids, which the Harts think of as "family." "Some of them have done quite well for themselves," said Dennis.
Through it all - hurricanes, booms, busts and two new causeways - generations of Sarasotans have traipsed over to Hart's Landing for bait, cold drinks and fishing advice. Under the rumble of traffic, the
heartbeat of old Sarasota is still going strong.
