Bayou Bill's will be back.
Patrick Mathews, the son-in-law of the owner, said the popular South Walton seafood restaurant will be rebuilt. But first, the old building at 4748 U.S. Highway 98 that was gutted by a fire Nov. 28 must be torn down and the insurance company has to cough up payment.
The fire severely damaged the restaurant. Firefighters said flames were pouring out the side and back windows and through a hole in the roof when they arrived.
Investigator Tommy Barron with the state Fire Marshal's Office said the blaze has been ruled accidental. Barron said he can't pinpoint a location or cause of the fire because of the extensive damage, but he was leaning toward an electrical short in a lighting fixture.
Mathews said he has hired an attorney because the insurance company had been dragging its feet and has denied his claim. Mathews declined to say how much he is trying to recoup.
"We paid our premiums," he said. "They cashed our checks every year."
When the insurance money comes through, Mathews will be ready to start construction. He said he is finalizing architectural plans, and when the building comes down a contractor will prepare the site for construction.
Mathews said he's hoping to be open by February 2009.
Lou Jordan, a manager at Bayou Bill's Panama City Beach location, said the new Santa Rosa Beach restaurant will be bigger and better. Plans call for the bar to be in the middle of the restaurant with the seating surrounding it. Jordan said that about 50 to 100 more seats will be added. The old building had seating for about 200 people, he said.
Mathews said the menu will stay the same, but there will be one change: Bayou Bill's will be open for lunch.
The Panama City Beach location is now open for lunch in part to keep the Santa Rosa Beach restaurant's employees working until the new restaurant opens.
Mathews said that even though the Panama City Beach location is about 20 miles away, customers have been loyal.
"About 20 percent of our business are customers from Santa Rosa Beach," he said.
