It was in November 1984 when Evalena Worthington and her late husband, Paul quietly sailed into the Key West Bight on their classic 1926 Alden Schooner Defiance. Anchored by sea battered shrimp boats and buffered by wooden shanties selling nautical wares, the rough and ramshackle harbor front was a sight to behold.
Entrepreneurs that they were, the seafaring couple immediately got to work on establishing the largest marine fuel dealership south of Miami. They also set their sights on an even bigger challenge: transforming the Key West Bight into a thriving Historic Seaport District. Their sheer resolve and hard work paid off. Schooner Wharf is now home to the largest working fleet of Schooners on the East coast.
But that’s only the back story.
In 1986 – just a short two years after they arrived in Key West – they also opened the now-infamous Schooner Wharf Bar. Originally located aboard the Brigantine Diamonte, it became a floating “living room” for the colorful waterfront community. Eventually, the Worthington’s moved their boat bar ashore where a diving board served as the bar top, a filing cabinet housed the top-shelf liquor, and local marine salvage became “eclectic” decor.
Today, this last little piece of old Key West keeps getting better with time. The funky open-air bar — located on the site of the old Singleton Shrimp factory — is a beacon for both locals and visitors. But don’t be fooled by the looks of this rustic dockside “dive.” The food here may not be fancy, but it’s sure damn good. Fresh stone crab claws, peel-and-eat shrimp, fresh-shucked oysters, and, of course, conch chowder and fritters headline the no-frills menu.
You can also get Schooner Wings with a choice of sauces, big chargrilled burgers, grilled or blackened fish sandwiches, and lots of other handhelds, as well as several hearty Galley Plates. Good food, exceptional live local entertainment, and a colorful cast of customers keep this last little piece of Key West one of the island’s coolest hangs.
You can find SWB at 202 William Street, on the historic Key West Harbor Front’s docks, in Old Town Key West. Info: 305-292-9520; schoonerwharf.com.
