GATES Construction has completed the building of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, the first restaurant to open on the new St. Pete Pier. The 10,000 square foot Old Florida style restaurant provides seating for 250 patrons. The 4,000 square foot interior is air-conditioned, while the remainder of the space is dedicated to covered outdoor seating overlooking downtown St. Pete’s scenic waterfront. The new restaurant is the fourth Doc Ford’s in Southwest Florida. Other locations include Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Fort Myers Beach. The restaurant’s name and Florida theme are based on the novels by New York Times best-selling author Randy Wayne White. Restaurant guests have access to all of the other amenities along the pier as well, including a marketplace, fishing deck with bait shop, walking area, picnic spaces and family park with kid’s play zone. Design services for the restaurant were provided by WJARC Architects.