Who owns Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill
 

Just had a bizarre and unnerving experience at the Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill. Was followed out of the restaurant to my car and threatened by a woman named Nicole who says she’s the manager and owner. Trying to find out who might care to hear my complaint. Maybe nobody but it was a bit scary. All over the fact that she got called out over their newspaper ads for $5.99 fish & chips lunch special that doesn’t say dine in only.

Not sure who owns the place, but it sure has gone down hill over the last couple years. Used to be a go to place for us, not any more.

You got someone so riled up over 5 bucks they followed you out the door? There's 3 sides to every story.

If I was threatened I would call the cops rather than post something online,.

Nope, she was riled up before she even “talked” to me. I didn’t expect her to honor it once I was told it was dine in only. My only ask was that they correct the newspaper ad to say “dine in only”. She was completely unreasonable and wouldn’t stop talking. When I walked out she followed me talking the entire time. Walked right behind me to my car. Faked taking a picture of my license plate and said she was calling the cops. Nothing to call about! Faked she was on her phone. She was so unreasonable I didn’t know what she would do. Got in my car and left. I now know she did not call the police. Of course not. It may be her parents or Mom who owns the restaurant. Would explain her very arrogant attitude.

I did call the police. She said she called them and faked being on the phone. The police have no record. I was worried about what lies she may have said and would the police show up at my door. The police said anyone can follow anyone. It’s not a crime until the touch you. I was surprised by that.

John and Maureen McIntyre Own The Lighthouse along with Augustinian 1812 House in Spanish Springs unless they have sold it but that’s what I found on Facebook.

Awesome! Thank you. It was so bizarre. Clearly she is having a bad day (or life). She was so unreasonable with no customer service skills at all. All she had to do was say “you’re right. I’ll correct the ad right away”. That didn’t happen - at all!

That family ( McIntyre) has been involved with The Lighthouse restaurant for at least 14 years that I'm aware of, without any incident like this reported anywhere. To say I'm skeptical of the facts as portrayed by the OP is an understatement.

Sorry you doubt me. I really wish it wasn’t true but it did happen. My post didn’t ask if anyone believes me. I was just trying to track down the owner info. I’m guessing she is their daughter so any complaint on my behalf I’m sure won’t be heard. I’m still shaking me head at how she reacted. All I can tell you is it happened. It was very bizarre and unnerving. I’m guessing she was having a bad day and that I wasn’t the only person who wanted to order to go. She probably had it with being asked that question and I took the brunt of it. If you look at their ad in the newspaper it doesn’t say anything about dine in only for their lunch special. That was my only suggestion was that she change the ad to reflect the accuracy. She didn’t want to hear anything.

And just curious how you would know that there haven’t been any complaints like this?

Sorry that happened to you.

The police aren’t going to get involved with an incident like this. They have to deal with much more serious incidents, such as burglaries. So they’re not getting involved because a restaurant manager followed you to your car. If she followed you home, that could be considered stalking.

As far as the incident itself, I do understand how you feel. The manager wasn’t gracious about your complaint. That’s just the lack of etiquette that I’ve also seen on the part of restaurant servers and managers in today’s world.

Having said that, I respectfully disagree with your complaint. If I saw an ad which stated “lunch special $5.99 for fish and chips,” I would assume that meant dine-in. Restaurant specials often apply to dine-in only, not take out. I don’t think you should have made an issue out of it. Why not enjoy the fish and chips at a table or the bar area?

Whatever the facts are, the grievance has been aired and kind of sure owners will hear about it from their acquaintances

What is the purpose of dine in only? So you buy beverages which you can just order water. A tip? I just don't get why it would be dine in only, I don't see their angle.

But to be honest, you haven’t really told anyone what EXACTLY happened. there’s a lot you’ve left out which makes this entire story sound fishy. Like showing the end of a fight without showing how exactly it started.

Ditto. We also found recent experiences a bit sub par. Plenty of alternatives so no reason to revisit.

Forget police
 

Curious, avoiding the dingbat lady, is the lighthouse worth going to now or down hill avoid?

WOW! If true, and I have to assume it is (why would anyone make up such a bizarre allegation??), then the owners certainly need to look into this matter. Hopefully they, or their staff, read these daily posts. The fact that she left the premises to follow you to your car is the problem in my opinion. No reason for doing that

I’ve only been one time and thought, what a great location, it’s too bad the food/drink quality doesn’t match up. What a waste of a great space on the water.

You know the old saying about never assume….. and in this case, the OP has never even said exactly what happened. And doubtful they see these posts. Very few people are on this site on a daily basis. It’s the same ones over and over.

Life is too short to make such a big deal about something like this. Forgive and forget!

We stopped going there way before the pandemic, food for what you pay is lousy and not a worth it Were happy at Miller's in Lady Lake..spend your money someplace else.

Why was she “ called out “. Sounds suspicious to me.

So, you order the lunch special for $5.99. And maybe you order a drink, an appetizer, and dessert. And maybe you come with a friend who doesn’t like fish and chips and orders something else at the regular price. When this happens, the restaurant makes a good profit despite selling you the lunch special essentially at cost. This is how specials of this sort always work. “Lunch Specials” are never for “to go” or for “carry out.” That would lose money for the restaurant. “Lunch Special” means you are there for lunch. Is it possible the Original Poster was much less polite than he thinks he was? I’d love to hear the manager’s side of the story.

:BigApplause:

You are right. I have known the two daughters, mother and father for the 13 years I have been going to that restaurant. They have been friendly, professional and more than accommodating. Like you I seriously doubt this played out as the OP has described.

That is exactly the draw. Many folks (at least us) will order the lunch special (bogo, $5 burger, etc) at a restaurant, sit at the bar, kibitz with the bartender and have a beverage, usually alcoholic. They make up for the food revenue shortfall with the booze tab. They are in business and have expenses (salaries, etc) to meet while making a decent profit. Nothing wrong with advertising dine in only specials but they should specify that in the ad to avoid this kind of situation. IMHO.

Up and down.
 

When Maureen ran the Lighthouse, everything about it was superb. When she went to "rescue" the poor performing 1812, the Lighthouse started down hill - and 1812 went up. I guess "the kids" are nothing like her! ALL problems like this are management problems.

The last time I dined there the food and service was good. During Covid it went downhill but they my they seem to have improved. An employee doesn’t follow a customer out for no reason. There is obviously another side to this story.

Lighthouse Grill
 

I used to eat there often before these people bought it. I don't go there anymore.

My wife and I have tried numerous times to eat there but it’s always too busy and we just haven’t made a reservation yet. However we have enjoyed their atmosphere by having a few drinks and listening to the entertainment and enjoying the view. It’s very comfortable in the evening watching the sunset.

Lots of questions come to mind. You only presented one very narrow side. Did you pull the privileged retired OP card out of your deck? Did you demand? Bet the fault belongs to both parties.

Been going to this particular restaurant for many years and never had a bad experience. I do agree that the menu has recently changed and staffing is not what it used to be. But that being said, so hasn't the same happened to many of the other Village venues.

You want cheap fish take-out go McDonalds. Wait, you won't find $5.99 there.

Could the "Ding Bat" be the one who wrote the post?

You criticize without knowing all the facts.

Dine-in is more profitable
 

Exactly! In this case, their advertisement should have stated "dine-in only"....BUT, clearly they want you to stay and eat more and/or have a beer, etc because the profit margin is higher. It's a good business model.

BTW, the original poster could have (should have) inquired here about the restaurant owner contact info WITHOUT going into their personal situation....just ask for facts, not opinions.

Regarding Lighthouse ownership:
 

Folks:
All this time and effort over a misrepresented $5.99 meal ad? Time to get a life, isn't it?

Interesting how I asked who owned the restaurant and gave a little bit of info on what happened and now I’m being called a liar, should tell more details of what happened, should tell less of what happened, should assume ad meant dine in, should just go enjoy dining in (difficult with a disabled husband), should call the police, shouldn’t call the police, restaurant is great, restaurant isn’t great, owners have no complaints, and I should get a life.
Thank you to those who provided an answer to my initial question!
Thank you to those who could understand and empathize without my being doubted and accused. You are a rare breed in today’s society.

Agree with you...most of the topics here in TV seem to get carried away and people call you names or a liar. Sorry,
you are right it should always state dine in or dine out. Anyone who has ever owned a business knows that you put in all the info so there is no question. You did nothing wrong by suggesting that they need to change the Ad to reflect this. It would save them from having to explain to the next person. Enjoy your day.

John McIntyre of The Villages CPM took it over in June, 2012. It was originally owned by Robin Lewis and called the Lewis Lighthouse.

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