By Lulu

Out in Satsuma a short hop from Crescent City is the old Hermit’s Cove, under new ownership and a new name. The Gartenders at the Gnarly Gar are happy to serve you with a smile! The new owners Jay and Tanya Steck, along with Marcin Grucela have had the helm of the Gar since November 2022. Tanya was born and raised in Florida. Jay was born in Michigan but raised in New Jersey. They now reside in Port Orange but have a place out in Satsuma where the Gnarly Gar is located. The bar is a great destination ride for ice cold beer, seltzers, and wine with a beautiful view of the water and sunsets! Jay and Tanya are also busy with businesses other than the bar. Jay works for a construction coatings manufacturer and together they have Saltair Properties Group which manages rental properties. Jay was in law enforcement in the past and Marcin was a Marine, “once a Marine, always a Marine”! Marcin does ride motorcycles and loves the biking community. The “fish camp” (home) they own in Hermit’s Cove made the former Hermit’s Cove bar their place to stop for a drink, and when Gary the owner passed away, he left the bar to Pamela Small, who ran if for a bit. When she decided to sell, the Steck’s bought it to keep it operating for the local community, the motorcycle riders and the boaters who love this place, as they do. In Tanya’s words, “We love the bar and continue to improve on it. We really decided to buy it because we were concerned that if we didn’t, someone may come in and change the bar to something else or would tear it down and put houses on the property. We love the bar, and we also love this community, which genuinely is what ‘makes’ this bar what it is today. We embrace the Gnarly Gar as a local’s spot and the support we receive from the community of locals, bikers and boaters shows in everything we do to keep it going.” Since Gary had the original Hermit’s Cove, the bar has added live music, occasional food trucks and other entertainment.

Ride out to find this gem in the country. They are open Wednesday-Sunday 11a-to sometime after 10pm. Tanya runs the show, Jay and Mancin are never far from the Gnarly Gar. Kim, Michelle, and Ana Mira are the GARTENDERS. Ride out and tell them you saw this in Thunder Roads Florida Magazine!

The address is 482 Cove Dr., Satsuma. Check them out at gnarlygar.com or find them on Facebook too. The phone number is 386-214-1863.