Smiler's Wharf Beef Shutters Mystic Eats Festival

MYSTIC, CT—On the heels of the defeat of its ambitious downtown Mystic project called Smiler's Wharf, Seaport Marine Thursday told Mystic Eats festival organizers they cannot use its property. For years, owners have allowed their property to be used for free to house the beer and music tents of the popular annual food festival.

Downtown Mystic Merchants, the organization that runs Mystic Eats, posted the cancellation on its website and Facebook page Friday afternoon. The festival brings thousands to Mystic in early September.

As reported in The Day, a letter from a Smiler's Wharf principal Harry Boardsen, on behalf of property owners the Holstein family, spells it right out.

"As you know, our aspirations to continue to improve our Mystic business this year was met with much resistance from local residents and more importantly, local downtown businesses and residents who vocally opposed our plans. Businesses and residents that unfortunately, blindly take advantage of our generosity year over year within Mystic and our community," he wrote, according to The Day, naming "commentators" from downtown merchants, the "Mystic Park Commission, and openly on the Stonington Community Forum."

Boardsen wrote, "It's truly unfortunate that local residents and business owners have to succumb to measures such as these in reaction to a venomous vocal minority."

Speaking of the Facebook community forum page, people are already weighing in with many saying it should be alcohol free and there would be no need for a beer "shed," and others saying, "what goes around comes around," a few say Seaport Marine owners are "heroes," other used words like, "sour grapes," and "sulking and petulance."

"They're upset people didn't embrace their over the top plan. Very simple. So this is a big FU to Mystic," one wrote.

The Smiler's Wharf plan was a redevelopment of the 11.5-acre lot on the Mystic River to include a second restaurant, marine services, a 50-room hotel, and a mix of 47 apartments, townhouses and single-family homes.

In mid-July, the plan was scrapped. Developers withdrew its zone change request and master plan approval hours before a slated Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on the controversial plan, according to an agenda.

The plan on the site of Seaport Marina and its environs called for a hotel, apartments and townhouses, restaurant, marine services and parking among other uses.

The state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection was opposed to the plan, The Westerly Sun reported in May.

There was widespread opposition to the project, including from fellow downtown business.

A portion of the festival proceeds were to be donated to Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center’s Giving Garden at Coogan Farm.