A controversial takeover of the Coral Gables Country Club by a politically-connected businessman and lobbyist could be dead in the water after Rodney Barreto sent the city a letter Saturday saying that he gives up on what he called a “painful process.”
Barreto has withdrawn his proposal to lease and operate the historic, taxpayer-owned “crown jewel” of the City Beautiful — considered one of the few remaining bastions of the Old Gables — and the quaint-if-outdated Burger Bob’s, which recently got a lease extension but is reportedly closing anyway later this year.
“They say, ‘never let the facts get in the way of a good story,’ and unfortunately, our efforts to breathe life into what are some of the most important locations in the city were met with a coordinated, vitriolic, and persistent campaign of misinformation,” Barreto wrote in a letter that was hand-delivered and emailed to Zeida Sardiñas, asset manager for the city’s economic development department.
“Those who perpetrated this campaign succeeded in brewing considerable unrest in the surrounding community and in the city at large,” Barreto went on. “They impugned our integrity, and that of the City Manager, the Mayor, and the Commission. They painted vivid pictures of smoke-filled rooms and ‘back-channel deals,’ all of which were a fantastical farse. But alas, the damage was done.”
Barreto said the community had painted his group as bullies pushing Burger Bob McGuire out of his beloved old-style diner at the edge of the Granada Golf Course when that lease was coming to a natural end. What started as a proposal to “preserve his legacy by rejuvenating the city’s favorite diner was twisted into a web of misinformation that resulted in nothing but suffering for those trying to do a good thing, including several former elected officials who introduced me to Bob.”
And he doesn’t want anyone to think this was an inside track deal?
City administrators and commissioners claimed that the current country club operator has defaulted on the rent and neglected to maintain the historic property since taking over the lease in 2009. Last March, the Di Donato family that operates the club were told that they would not be allowed to renew the lease, which was up in September (extended to this April, 2022, so they could fulfill commitments). Last April, the city put out a request for proposal, seeking a minimum $4.5 million investment.
Only the Barreto Hospitality Group responded. But because the operators said they were approached in October of 2020 by Barreto to take over the operations, the move not to renew seems political. The Di Donatos say the only rent missed was for one month during the pandemic because they were shut down and that they have since paid up. And that they tried to meet several times with City Manager Peter Iglesias, to no avail.
Defenders of the current country club operators say the city went out of its way to find a reason to reject the automatic renewal.
Barreto, who is a prolific political fundraiser, also made an unsolicited bid to lease and operate Burger Bob’s, which everybody feared would be turned into a fancy restaurant, like the other one he runs. They also feared Barreto would turn the country club into a mini mall or something.
In other words, the proposals were not met with cheer from the old Gables community. Residents who live directly around the country club and some of the 1,200 or so members began to actively fight it. There were jam packed meetings at the Country Club where residents practically begged the current operators, Liberty Entertainment Group as Gables Grand, to fight harder to keep the lease. An online petition to keep the current operators and the country club as is has more than 3,200 signatures. The operator hired an attorney.
“This ‘process’ was flawed from the start because it had one goal,” attorney David Winker told Ladra. “To hand over control of these two beloved community assets in yet another ‘special deal for special people done behind closed doors.’
“In the process they damaged our community by creating more mistrust and causing Rita Tennyson to close Burger Bob’s and terminating the Di Donato’s lease of the Country Club. Both are answers to problems that don’t exist,” Winker said.
“The City needs to have an outside investigator dig into what happened, so we can stop this pattern. From Wawa, upzoning to allow hated out-of-scale development like the Agave Plaza, to the recent ‘mistake zoning’ on Biltmore Way — we need to change Coral Gables government to reflect what residents want.
“And the City needs to apologize for falsely maligning these beloved operators and work with the Di Donato family to keep the Country Club and Liberty Caffe as they are… because that is what residents want,” he said.
The “vitriolic” tone of the debate can be seen on the Gables Insider, where Barreto wrote a guest column explaining his interest — no, he doesn’t identify the former elected that introduced him to McGuire — which was then responded to by the Di Donatos and members of the community.
In the somewhat snarky note, Barreto hinted that the city will regret losing his interest.
“The ‘bad will’ created by a few malcontents is costly. This is clear now and will become more so in the coming months and years. It would be imprudent for us to commit to investing over $5 million in places where we are not welcome,” he wrote, adding that this withdrawal would also save commissioners discomfort.
“Any member of the Commission who votes in favor of approving our proposals would suffer politically with the loud minority of malcontents in the nearby neighborhood, and for no good reason. Our Commissioners and Mayor are underserving of such ire. We have, in our view, among the best local government officials and staff anywhere in the world.”
Especially if they give you an inside track, right?
“Best of luck to you and the City with whatever the future will now hold for these iconic locations,” he ended, signing it with what looks like a fat, blue Sharpie.
Drop mic.
Rodney Barreto withdraws proposals to operate Coral Gables Country Club and Burger Bob’s by Political Cortadito on Scribd
Coral Gables Country Club grab deal is dead as Rodney Barreto group backs out added by Ladra on
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Paulette Bilsky-Phillips’ endorsement of Barreto is right out of his playbook. When something smells there is always a source to it. Rodney and his entire family are a scourge on S. FL.
Mobster mentality. Always winner take all. They don’t work and want everyone else as their slaves. They exist to rape our area both the public and private sector. She is obviously connected to someone in his family. It’s amazing how high and mighty they are about espousing high moral values and always strutting around with their snout in the air. They get all the good deals because of connections and favoritism. Paulette probably owes them a favor of some kind. I know that this LGBT alphabet people are more accepted in the world, but if you or I had one the Royal Barreto’s would look down their snout at us. But when one of their miscreants comes out as a sick puppy it’s OK. They are such good conservative hypocrite Catholics that tow the conservative line. God forbid if one of us should have a gay kid, but it’s OK, tolerated, and promoted when it’s one of the “Royals”. These dogs are Miami’s version of Charles and Camila. Rodney probably was on Epstein’s jet in the Bahamas. God only knows what else he had his grubby paws on.
I have seen how this gem was abandoned and infested 11 years ago and to now close again. We the members were involved in the construction and building improvements. They were awarded a medal of Coral Gables for the renovations and upgrades for the Athletic Club just prior to the pandemic, the Mayor had a ribbon cutting ceremony. Look at the City run buildings, City Hall, and Granada Pro shop they are in dire need of repair. Now the other concern is what are the costs and loss of shutting down the Country Club. There will be lost rent, maintaining the building, insurance, landscaping. What will this cost the taxpayers? What about employees working at the Country Club, brides, members. I thought our City was to take care of their people.
We pay the jobs of the Commissioner’s and City staff, they work for us. The City is telling us what we want to hear. What happens in a few months? Once Parks cant handle it and there is no budget; Barreto will ride in on his $5 million white horse while calling us residents malcontent. Offering less money and better terms. We the taxpayers are owners of this gem. Keep what is working, no one is complaining. The City tries to fix more things that don’t need fixing. We residents need to be listened to and not silenced. WE HAVE A CHOICE & A VOICE.
After reading the recent articles regarding the Barreto Hospitality Group pulling withdrawing their proposals for the Coral Gables Country Club and Burger Bob’s, I felt it was necessary to share my thoughts.
I think the comments towards Rodney Barreto and his colleagues are very disrespectful and motivated by misinformation and jealousy. I have known Rodney, his family, and business colleagues for over 30 years and I must tell you that I have not met many people who are as forthright, kind, considerate, but most of all honorable as a friend.
Time will certainly show what a stable and fabulous opportunity we have lost by not having a hospitality company like his be a part of these “iconic” Coral Gables locations. Most people who have caused so much noise and rhetoric have no idea what it takes to run a food/hospitality location. I love Burger Bob’s but as time has gone on I felt the location, menu, and passion to offer the best quality food was diminishing. Yes it was “OK” – but if you spoke to Bob, you knew he was growing tired and was suggesting he was going to be done soon. Let’s truly be honest, the pandemic closures and lack of continued investment in the business was evident. I strongly believe an upgrade by the city, Bob, or someone else was seriously needed in the coming lease agreement! If you don’t know BURER BOB’S IS CLOSED!!!! Now we have nothing…. Where are the all the residents that were offering money to “keep it open”. Where are these would-be heroes now? And these folks claim to want the city to “follow the rules” but they are happy to ignore the fact that plenty of rules were broken at Bob’s, like having an unlicensed catering business and not paying the rent! Come on people!
As to the Country Club – the lawyer for DiDonato says in the article ‘special deal for special people done behind closed doors” – this is ridiculous! It wasn’t a “special deal for special people,” they (the city) asked for bids and the only person/company putting in a bid was a long time, highly recognized community leader living in Coral Gables; Rodney Barreto. This is exactly the kind of person our community needs to manage our local country club: local, accomplished, knowledgeable, respectful, dedicated to his community. These people stand up there and lie, and we eat it up.
Nick DiDonato would by most accounts fall into the same ”special people” category as Rodney if “special” means: successful, hard working, community icon, etcetera. The only real difference in their “specialness” is Rodney is from Coral Gables and Nick is from Canada! Oh and did I fail to mention, DiDonato has been managing the GCCC and the city feels he should be replaced, not Rodney.
Special deals, lol. Why is Rodney making special deals: there was a bid request by the city, he applied – does that make it special? Do we forget how Liberty Entertainment got their lease???? I have been to country clubs all over the country and have never seen a country club with less attractive facilities and food service then CGCC. With or without Rodney improvements need to be made.
A $5,000,000.00 upgrade to these locations would have brought back the services our community needs: world class venues with stability, cleanliness, affordable food service (the city good enforce standards in lease), but most of all an influx of commitment to Coral Gables residents to manage these facilities with the respect they deserve.
Way to go 3,200 people of a total 50,226 residents in Coral Gables you managed to get this deal wrong….if you think everything is so corrupt in Coral Gables get out and vote for better political leaders, don’t point fingers at successful business leaders who care about the community and do the work necessary to make it better! The real winner is Rodney and his next venture.
Coral Gables residents and taxpayers need to be ON GUARD. More scams are coming. Are Gables residents aware the Baretto’s got to keep their ugly stores at MIA without having to pay rent? AND they got no-bid lease extensions? So many scams…
” The public always get screwed.”
What’s is the similarity between a flying fire breathing Dragon and an honest Miami Commissioner who actually works for the people not developers and other big money special interest ?
Neither exist.
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” Next TRUM DORAL need to find a Name ”
As you know he wants to put 2,300 homes on it gated community style and retail plus commercial businesses .
The area around his golf course is in for serious noise and obscene traffic not just with countless trucks due to the retail but especially commercial businesses after it happens .
The place has always lost money , it was like way before he bought it and remained that way though heard when he first bought it , he was bringing in a lot of golf players from Asia but after he was elected that stopped , who knows if that is true.
When I first moved here I got lost one night ( well it was more like 4 am ) coming home from work and wound up there , this was before he became President .
I went inside and asked for directions , stunning place and though I do not play golf what I could see looked beautiful ( course was lit up ) .
Skip the schadenfreude.
The mayor, city manager and commissioners now need to do the right thing and respond to their constituents and what they have been asking for all along.
It’s time to regain emotional maturity, bury the axe and let the Liberty Entertainment Group continue operations. A late April 2020 lease payment at the pandemic outbreak was for all businesses an unforeseen force majeur event.
Continuance of operations is for the city also economically the most viable, cost avoidance option.
In the meantime, lets move on to the next CG scandal; the massive 148-unit development on suburban 301 Madeira Ave.
WE Have to get use to this New Names “LIBERTY” for Coral Gables Golf Course and “FREEDOM ” for Mel Reese Park in MIAMI , What a Scam all Our Large green Areas NOW Maybe “JUSTICE” for CALUSA Golf Club , Next TRUM DORAL need to find a Name , an Invasion on GREENS BY Greedy Buyers !
Miami should rename itself to “SNAKE RIVER, Florida” These swamp rat Barretos can then swim around freely with the other reptiles and other such ilk. Thieves in expensive clothes driving expensive cars. Don’t forget the trophy wife with the expensive jewelry. This high maintenance lifestyle requires the graft to continue.
This guy and his entire family have been using South Florida as their own private piggy bank for decades. The story starts with the old man Roger Barreto. Boyhood friends with the old crooked mayor of Miami Dade.Steve Clark. Clark Brothers Construction was awarded millions of dollars of no-bid contracts for work at MIA. Then Rodney was on the board of directors of the LBA puppet U.S. Century Bank. This little bank was awarded more money by the Feds than all the banks in South Florida after the banking crash. The federal regulators sent him and the bank a cease and desist letter to stop giving themselves “sweetheart” loans that were almost never repaid. This SOB is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. His entire family (brothers and sister” are all in various politically appointed jobs. FWC, FREC, Etc. One of his brothers committed insurance fraud 5 years ago. He swindled the homeowner’s insurance out of over $400,000 with the old “Joe’s” plumbing scam. This is when you claim a water leak during the weekend. The plumber comes out and rips up the floors to fix the leak and is in on the scam. Robert “Bruce” Barreto a retired fireman ran this scam and was never investigated by the state. The family because of their political connections are always one step ahead of the law. These carpetbaggers are so used to scamming and stealing that they cry like spoiled brats when they don’t get their way. Thank god that the stench that Rodney and Roger have tried to keep buried is finally getting aired out. These people are guilty of so much corruption that they are mystified when they finally get caught red-handed. These people in this family have never done an honest days work in their lives. There are many other stories that have been buried because of their friends in high places. If any of us had done even 10% of the scams these folks have pulled we would be sitting in jail asking for a bail hearing. It is very curious how they have so much and it’s never enough. This POS is like the warden in the Shaw Shank Redemption. His scams are scams within a scam. Guess what warden Andy Dufresne just sent the proof to the newspaper. Lol
“farce”, farse is a church thing
Great news
We need to get those administrators out of our city
Yes we want quality no quantity
Rodney Barreto and his family and his cronies have been “winning” no-bid leases for years. The public always get screwed. The Barreto’s always get more money. There is too much corruption in Coral Gables and in Miami-Dade County.
Cry me a river.
Excellent news!! Another effort to continue undermining and sabotaging our residential quality of life has been stopped, for now. Pitiful to read such whining and veiled threat from someone who claims to be an ally of Gables residents. Please take your “flash and dash” elsewhere and stop catering to those in our city government and commission who tried, but fell short, of ramming this through. Your goodbye should be followed by in-house cleaning of city administrators who continue making too many “mistakes” at the expense of those who fund their salaries; we, the residents. Coral Gables is about quality, not quantity. As the “oasis within the desert”, we are unique and do not need to emulate others. Let us stay the course that has made us the city everyone wants to live in. Thank you for your decision, Mr. Barreto. We gladly accept it.
LOL
“I’ll be back”
Well played sir.