How do you recap the emotional tears and hugs? Knowing the end was here. The last week was torture. Then the last Friday came and went. On the last Saturday, there were only so many fish in the coolers. Was a matter of time before the last grouper was filleted. Margaret grabbed the last three and carried them inside to the fishmonger’s table. I was there with her. Friends were coming back to offer their sympathies. When the last grouper was being cut, the raw emotion could no longer be held back. A fishmonger’s dream to open and run a successful old Florida Shack was cut and discarded like the last grouper’s rack was dropped for the catfish. The last grouper’s skin was readied to throw for the last time. The pelicans did their arm lift to signal they were ready. They had no idea this was the last time. KG had the last grouper bites. Jan had the last fried oysters. Now we all pulled up the chairs and opened beers on the outside beer openers. Come Sunday morning everyone arrived for the start of the tear down. Tables were cleared to make room for the potluck. This was a way for us to commune with the Shack and each other. The Shack’s guts were put on tables to sell to the public. Cherished memories were walking away. Some were utensils and pans to be used. Some were mementos to live forever in a friend’s home. All this was being watched by St. Pete Police. IGY Marinas feared for “Trouble” on the last day and Sunday’s tear down. IGY had hired police to watch us. IGY is a company with no understanding of the local community nor are the Chicago owners, Bixby Bridge Capital. Old Florida is better than Chicago investors and Caribbean marina raiders who don't know water! So if you ever want to share how old Florida is being destroyed, then share the Maximo Seafood Shack's story. Tell everyone how Chicago Investors Bixby Bridge Capital and IGY Marinas were responsible for destroying one remaining true seafood shack in St, Petersburg, Florida and its neighborhood community center. The silver lining is Margaret had her best quarter in 2016. The first three months exceeded all her sales in 2015. Sad part is five employees, a family, are no longer employed. Margaret was gracious enough to let me have two mementos — a large seasoned black iron skillet and Lois, the ceramic white pelican who was the shack guardian. Today, Lois is sitting on my porch looking over the shack. The porch is my perch to photograph the sunrises, storms, sunsets, boat traffic and the activity at the Shack, Now Lois and I share memories as we look at an empty Shack. Lois and I have been talking and I am writing a four part interview and sharing her memories and photographs. The series is titled, Interview with a Pelican. She shares how she came to the Maximo Seafood Shack, her life, how she started Pelican Yoga and made the Shack the world headquarters, how the Shack was closed, and finally, Shackless in St. Pete. Here is Part One, Lois' Early Years — Four Part Interview with the #PelicanYoga Founder https://slate.adobe.com/cp/2IwjA/ In closing, there is a loss of humanity when out-of-state investors have no regard for a local community. They don’t live here so they don’t know and don’t care. But we have over 26,000 supporters who care! I have included a few of their comments below. I wish there was enough room to post the 2126 comments. COMMENTS Milwaukee, WI — I discovered this wonderful authentic old Florida neighborhood seafood shack a few years ago. I would drive over an hour out of my way to buy a seafood feast when I visited my Mom in Bradenton. My Mom just moved to St Pete in Match and we were so thrilled to finally be close enough to visit the amazing bar on the end of the pier more often. I am so saddened to have just heard about what is going on. It's awful!! And I truly can't understand how the new Company wouldn't understand how valuable this small business would be to them not to mention the goodwill of the locals who clearly love this authentic treasure. St. Petersburg, FL — I am in complete agreement with the opinions and objections expressed by Mr Neff. This is another get and grab by the über rich! Unconscionable! Tampa, FL — Been there many time and fight for small wonderful place .. Once it gone you can't change back time St. Petersburg, FL — My husband and I live in the nearby community and love going there to relax, have lunch and a beer. This is needed in the neighborhood Port Orange, Florida — We need to keep Old Florida too, it's what makes us special. St. Petersburg, FL — Because this corporate greed has destroyed an amazing place that was filled with laughter food family and love the shack will never be duplicated it was a one of a kind place :( Myersdale, PA — I've never been there, but it sounds amazing! I support small businesses 100%. It saddens me to see the corporate world my children are growing up in. I would much rather dine in a place such as this rather than some big corporate name. Maximo Marina Management - quit looking at the almighty dollar and realize that some things mean so much more to a lot of people! Save the Shack!! Bradenton, FL — It's truly a charming "old Florida" place to go, eat the scrumptious fresh Florida seafood, and have a taste of old Florida decor and charismatic atmosphere. Can't imagine that the Yacht company would take this away for their " big business benefits". STATS 26,231 Supporters 2126 Comments All 50 States reached 1030 Cities reached in the United States. 11 Countries — Australia, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Ireland, Norway, England, Scotland, United States WATCH THE FILM TRAILER and Help #SaveTheShack: https://youtu.be/GLvFJOB5U_k The documentary will be submitted to local, national and international film festivals. See you in Sundance, Tribeca and Cannes Film Festival! MAYOR UPDATE St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman never reached out to the Maximo Seafood Shack, a Southside’s woman-owned, veteran-owned small business. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Our 26,000+ supporters can still message (1) Bixby Bridge Capital, (2) IGY Marinas, and (3) St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman and say “You may have closed the Shack, but you really lost” and please add your comments: 1. IGY Marinas a. Twitter https://twitter.com/igymarinas b. Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/IGYMarinas c. NYC Headquarters for Island Global Yachting (IGY Marinas). - Email them online: http://www.igymarinas.com/contact/ - Phone Global Headquarters in NYC: 212-705-5000 2. Chicago Owners Bixby Bridge Capital’s David Colburn and Steven Fass a. Email online: http://www.bixbybridgecapital.com/contact-us/ b. Phone: 847-313-6454 3. St.Petersburg MAYOR KRISEMAN Contact Mayor Kriseman via email mayor@stpete.org 4. St.Petersburg City Council Contact City Council Member via emai council@stpete.org Regards, Robert Neff Independent Investigative Journalist @5wa on Twitter, https://twitter.com/5wa Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/rcneff Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcneff