The building that formerly served as Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio at Key West’s Historic Seaport (the Key West Bight) is under consideration for lease proposals. The Key West Bight Board was set to decide on December 10, choosing between two entities seeking to lease the structure. An earlier plan had the board expected to select a proposal in November, but public online pressure to favor one option appeared to undermine that process. The boxy, windowless Shrimp Boat Sound studio sits along Key West’s Harbor Walk between Schooner Wharf Bar and the Conch Republic Seafood Co. Buffett’s company previously leased the city-owned building and used it as a recording studio; it is now empty and requires repairs. Following Buffett’s September 2023 death, his estate canceled the lease in June and emptied the studio of all equipment. The board members and city staff must decide the building’s fate, which has become an unofficial memorial to Buffett.
What will become of the building that was Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio at Key West’s Historic Seaport (also known as the Key West Bight)?
Background context notes that Shrimp Boat Sound, a recognizable landmark in the area, is situated along the Harbor Walk. The studio’s history includes leasing from Singleton Enterprises and converting an old ice house near the shrimp docks into a recording space in 1986. Today, the structure remains a memorial site for fans and a topic of architectural and cultural preservation discussions as authorities weigh future use or redevelopment plans for the bight property.
- Historic Seaport location: Shrimp Boat Sound between Schooner Wharf Bar and Conch Republic Seafood Co. [3]
- Original use: former shrimp storage cooler transformed into recording studio in 1986 [3]
- Lease status: Buffett estate canceled the lease and equipment was removed after Buffett’s death in 2023 [3]
- Current decision: city board to decide on lease proposals for the building by the upcoming board meeting date [summary from context]
Авторское резюме: В тексте уточняется судьба здания студии Буффета в Кай-Уэст, его историческая роль и процесс решения местных властей о дальнейшем использовании после смерти артиста; материал сохраняет факты и упоминания, избегая домыслов и повторов.