Category: Marina News

Make no doubt about it 2020 was a year like no other as the coronavirus closed down businesses and cancelled events. It could not, however, stymie the forward momentum at Steelpointe Harbor. Fireworks, wildly successful boat shows, waterside dining, community investments, charitable giving and corporate expansion were all part of the 2020 Steelpointe Harbor experience. Showpiece Shows the developers’ entertainment division armed with tenacity, hutzpah, and technology would not be deterred and put on a pair of very safe and successful boat shows.

With only a short delay the first-ever Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Boat Show launched on Father’s Day weekend. Thousands attended the first ever show at the site as they passed through automated temperature checks to safely enjoy boats, boating accessories, classic cars and much more at a social distance.

The second Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show to be held at Bridgeport Harbor Marina in 2020 was held in September. Azimuth Aviation and Three Wing Aviation kicked off the event flying over Bridgeport’s East Side and landing four helicopters next to the Lighthouse Building on Steelpointe Harbor. Bridgeport Landing Development (BLD) President of Operations Bob Christoph Jr. was the first ever to land a helicopter on the peninsula. The Steelpointe Harbor Boat Show quickly became the tristate destination.

Equally successful was the re-opening of the Boca Oyster Bar after the government approved public dining again. Boca provided spacious patio dining on Bridgeport Harbor, and again served patrons from its raw bar, exquisite seafood menu, and a variety of appetizing offerings.

2020 was the first full year for the Bridgeport Harbor Marina which drew interest from boaters throughout the East Coast. Visitors, however, didn’t only come by sea or land but also by air as BLD has partnered with Three Wing Aviation out of Sikorsky Memorial Airport that has built a reputation for providing the highest standards of safety and customer service to clients. If boats or airflight isn’t your thing BLD held numerous opportunities for the car lovers either at the boat shows with Black Horse Garage or at a summer parking lot event that drew a number of high style performance vehicles.

Across the Harbor, Bridgeport Boatworks boasts Travelifts, repair services, a paint shop, and outside as well as heated inside winter storage. Their newest feature is a 620-ton travelift which will accommodate future expansion and tenants at the site. More on that to come in 2021. Also, at the boat yard, all boaters will have access to a newly constructed high-speed gas and diesel fuel dock for even the mega yachts. DockMaster Robert De Nigris says, “The fuel station serves marina tenants and transients alike and is a great convenience.”

As for the retailers, well Bass Pro Shops lead the way with record sales of camping supplies during the virus shutdown for those looking to find outdoor entertainment and recreation.

2020 business success was not confined to the harbor as blocks away BLD also invested in an important community development which is bringing a commercial development project to the East End including a grocery store and pharmacy to the food desert community. Community projects also included the investment in a Building Neighborhoods Together (BNT) project that includes 50 workforce housing units in Bridgeport.

BLD has also contributed to community efforts. On May 7th, 2020 the Connecticut Food Bank held 32-ton mobile drive-through food pantry for Bridgeport area residents to help alleviate hunger in the community caused by the pandemic. A line of cars to receive free meals wrapped around the entire block of Bass Pro Shops. That giving spirit continued throughout the year through contributions to organizations such as Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, Beardsley Zoological Gardens, East End Pop-up Market, Hall Neighborhood House, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, turkey and toy giveaways and many other contributions to groups such as the NAACP and the St Patrick’s Day Parade. BLD and Showpiece Shows even hosted a Sandlot game on the property for local kids from various diverse communities.

Considering all that BLD accomplished with its partners in 2020 it was fitting that they took in the new year with its annual Fireworks display, certainly a sign of great things to come.

The second Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show to be held at Bridgeport Harbor Marina in 2020 was held in September with an exhilarating amount of fanfare. The turnout was as incredible as the weather. Guests were yet again in awe of the boats, yachts, aircraft, and vehicles on display at Steelpointe.

Azimuth Aviation and Three Wing Aviation kicked off the event flying over Bridgeport’s East Side and landing four helicopters next to the Lighthouse Building on Steelpointe Harbor. Ken Smith, an accomplished pilot and General Manager of the Three Wing Aviation Group assisted with the landing of the helicopters. They joined the yachts and boats of all types that had arrived at the marina over the previous several days. The Showpiece Shows’ Steelpointe Harbor boat show quickly became the destination that everyone in the tristate area visited and enjoyed that beautiful September weekend.

 

 
The Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show was strategically organized to showcase and economically benefit the businesses in the city as much as possible. Essential event services were supported by local Bridgeport businesses and residents. “We sold out the Holiday Inn Hotel here in Bridgeport,” shared President of Operations for Bridgeport Landing Development, Robert Christoph Jr., “We’re excited to say that the positive economic impact on local business as well as the visibility this event brings to Bridgeport is really great, especially considering the effects Covid has had on struggling hotels.”

The event kicked off Thursday September 24, 2020 with a News12 interview with Robert Christoph Jr. and Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show’s promoter, Jennifer Jones. The interview revealed what to expect for the next three days at the second Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show of 2020.

 

 
Keeping the need for a safe environment in mind, the event was designed to be both fun and safe. Mandatory temperature screening prior to entering, touchless check in, as well as following proper social distancing requirements were all part of the organization of the show. Masks were available for patrons when they arrived, and hand sanitizer stations were plentiful.

 

 
Beyond the alluring display of boats, the show featured a variety of classic, luxurious, and sophisticated cars from the nearby Black Horse Garage on the east end. There were stylish and timeless examples from the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Dodge, Genesis, Ford, BMW and more showcased. Patrons were in awe and bestowed compliments as they walked through the display of lined up new and classic cars, with shining wheels, glistening paint, and sparkling chrome.

 

 
The glorious weekend weather helped create the ideal Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show experience. Talented performers played their hearts out as patrons sang along, while enjoying cold drinks and delicious food from the likes of Two Roads Breweries, Fire Engine Pizza and vendors including the marina’s own premier restaurant, Boca Oyster Bar. Matt White and Tyrone Wells highlighted the artists who performed from a stage moored out in the harbor. They wowed the audience with their entrances while performing their acts on the decks of Zeelander Yachts. This was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that had to be seen firsthand.

 
By all the comments from both the visitors and vendors, the event was a huge success and drew an enthusiastic crowd of boaters, yacht fanatics, and community members to the state-of-the-art docks at Bridgeport Harbor Marina. The Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show will return in June of 2021 and promises to exceed expectations once again.

By News12

A Bridgeport boat show is set to bring luxury yachts and more to the city this weekend.

The Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show runs from today through Sunday at the Bridgeport Harbor Marina.

Aside from boats, the show will also feature rare cars, private jets, and helicopters.

Due to pandemic precautions, the show is invitation-only, but tickets are still available.

Attendees will be required to have their temperatures taken when they arrive. Masks and hand sanitizers will also be given out, and staff will clean up throughout the event.

View full article on News12.com >

Fox61, Jim Altman

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The new Steelpointe Marina, which was completed in the late Spring is now up and running and play host to all things high end on the water, and on land.

“It consists of boats, yachts, cars, helicopters, seaplanes, a little of everything,” said Bob Christoph, the developer and owner of the Steelepoint Marina.

Christoph has spent six years developing the marina with his father and was excited about the socially distanced event officially called the Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show. “These are boats 35 feet and larger, going up to 150 feet at the show,” he said.

Read full article on Fox61 >

Reagan Haynes, tradeonlytoday.com

As in-person boat shows are being cancelled around the world due to the covid-19 pandemic, a fledgling yacht and charter event in Connecticut was held on Father’s Day weekend, drawing more than 3,000 people.

Producer Showpiece Shows worked closely with the RCI Group and Steelpointe Harbor in Bridgeport, Conn., to follow a responsible plan of action, using the wide docks and expanded outdoor areas to provide plenty of room for social distancing at the show.

The Steelpointe Yacht & Charter Show had always been planned as an invitation-only to bring attention to the Bridgeport area, but the coronavirus prompted a host of safety measures, said Steelpointe Harbor Marina owner Robert Christoph Jr.

Read full article >

History was made this past weekend at Steelpointe Harbor in Bridgeport. For the first time ever a Yacht and Charter Show in the Park City drew people from around the country. The Bridgeport Harbor Marina was filled with yachts, charter boats, antique and luxury cars, invited patrons, and vendors. Skyplanes buzzed the Marina, assorted food trucks lined up, and luxury exhibitors showed off their wares as helicopters hovered overhead. Mayor Joe Ganim arrived in style in a 435cc Everglades boat, accompanied by the Showpiece Show’s staff.

It all started on Thursday, June 18th ,2020 when the President of Operations for Bridgeport Landing Development Robert Christoph Jr. became the first person to arrive via helicopter on Bridgeport’s East Side Steelpointe Harbor Peninsula. This iconic moment set the stage for the big weekend. Thanks to Azimuth Aviation of Stratford, Connecticut history was made aboard one of their flying machines.

Kitty McGowen, an organizer of the event and President of the U.S. Superyacht Association said the boat show was particularly important for the Bridgeport area. “It’s not just about the ‘2 percenters’ who can afford expensive boats. It’s really about the jobs,” McGowen said. McGowen believes that the people and families are positively impacted by the increase of boats in the area. McGowen added the event brings more jobs and puts a focus on the entire city of Bridgeport. “The thing about the boating industry is that it’s good for this community and this brings hope to this community, this project bringing jobs and bringing a lot of focus in a very positive way that’s going to help lift up the entire city of Bridgeport,” says McGowan. The Christoph’s intend for their Yacht and Charter Boat event to be an annual luxury boat show that showcases their state-of-the-art 200-slip Bridgeport Harbor Marina. Christoph said, “They (guests) enjoyed Bridgeport Harbor in a way they haven’t in 100 years. A lot of people don’t know it exists, so we’ll be hosting boat shows annually in May and September.”

Beyond the alluring display of boats, the show featured a multitude of fast, luxurious, and sophisticated cars from the nearby Black Horse Garage. Whether it was Aston Martin or the brand-new Genesis vehicles, guests were in awe. Luckily, patrons did not have to be car aficionados to appreciate the beauty of what was on display. Showpiece Shows did a remarkable job presenting the first ever Steelpointe Boat Show.

Keeping the recent pandemic in mind, the event remained fun and safe. The show organizers arranged mandatory temperature screening prior to entering, a touchless check in, as well as following proper social distancing requirements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt impacted the nation. Now, more than ever, organizations need support. The Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show organized an online auction to benefit the community. The proceeds collected went toward Steelpointe’s non-profit partners: Connecticut Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust, Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, East End NRZ Market & Café, and Optimus Health Care.

The wonderful weather, diverse food choices, and live music created the perfect Steelpointe Yacht and Charter Show experience. Steelpointe will host a marquee event September 24th-September 27th, 2020, which will be open to the public. The September show promises to draw a crowd of boaters, yacht fanatics, and community members along the state-of-the-art docks at Bridgeport Harbor Marina.

On May 20th, in conjunction with the Connecticut Governor’s reopening of the state, Boca Oyster Bar Restaurant at Steelpointe Harbor will be swinging its patio doors open to the public. While providing spacious patio dining on Bridgeport Harbor, Boca Oyster Bar will again serve patrons from its raw bar, exquisite seafood menu, and a variety of appetizing offerings.

Opens 11:30AM for Lunch & Dinner,
Seven days a week

Reservations recommended.
203-612-4848

By Emma Jane-Doody Stetson, CTBites.com

“Opening a restaurant demands a fervent love of the business… and because of that love restaurants have historically proven far more resilient than many other small businesses,” writes John Mariani in a recent article for Forbes.  We are overjoyed that on Wednesday May 20, Connecticut restaurants can begin opening their doors per the governor and the state’s reopening plan.  Things may look a little different at first- outdoor dining only, reduced capacity, spread out tables, and in some cases limited hours- but we are thrilled to return to our favorite local eateries.  Here is a guide to restaurants reopening on May 20. Please let us know if you know of anyone not on the list. Please note that we are trying to keep up with updates, but these details are subject to change. Please call your favorite restaurants ahead of time to confirm.

Fairfield County

Boca, Bridgeport

Boca Oyster Bar is a stunning waterside restaurant, bar, and event venue located in the coastal Steelpointe Harbor neighborhood of Bridgeport, CT. Boca’s New England and seafood inspired menu is complemented by beautiful harbor views, majestic sunsets, and passing ferries. Home to one of Fairfield County’s largest outdoor dining spaces, Boca is excited to offer guests some quarantine relief in the form of beautiful outdoor dining with great food and drink, in a safe, spacious, and comfortable environment while adhering to the strictest of safety practices. Menu highlights include; the Boca lobster roll with fresh-picked Maine lobster and drawn butter; sesame-crusted ahi tuna tacos with wasabi and mango salsa; New Zealand lamb lollipops with chimichurri sauce; 42oz cowboy bone-in ribeye with choice of sauce; pan-seared Diver sea scallops with vegetable lo mein; and a variety of seasonal salads, juicy burgers, hearty sandwiches, and raw bar favorites. The beverage program combines today’s craft cocktail culture with island’esque frozen drinks, the popular frosé, craft beer, and an accessible wine list. Waterside dining can be enjoyed seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch. There is also Dock-n-Dine for boaters! (203) 612-4848 10 E Main St Bridgeport.

View full article on ctbites.com >

Article from Megayacht News

By Diane M. Byrne

Northeastern residents and cruisers count Newport, Rhode Island as a popular summer destination and seasonal base. Several superyachts book slips in New York City, too, and head out east along Long Island’s Gold Coast. Few, however, consider Connecticut an option. The developers behind the newly opened Bridgeport Harbor Marina aim to change that.

View the full article on MegayachtNews.com

Steelepointe Yacht & Charter Show steelpointeboatshows.com

Bridgeport Harbor Marina was recently featured in the March 2020 edition of Soundings Magazine. The magazine is a feature publication for pleasure boaters and has award-winning coverage of people, issues, events and technology of recreational boaters. In the full article below, developer Robert Christoph Jr. talks about the history, present, and future of Bridgeport Harbor Marina with feature writer Kim Kavin.

The Next Big Thing

COULD BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, BECOME JUST AS MUCH OF A BOATING DESTINATION AS, SAY, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND?

By Kim Kavin

What “flyover country” is to the United States, the Connecticut coastline has long been to Northeast boaters. Stuck between bustling New York Harbor and Rhode Island’s marine mecca of Newport, the Nutmeg State is a place that a lot of boaters simply cruise past on their way to somewhere else. Nice view. Pretty waterfront homes. Ho hum.

Developer Robert Christoph Jr. is working to change that, and to make Bridgeport, Connecticut, the next great boating destination in the region. The city is about 60 miles from Manhattan and about 120 miles from Newport, making it a natural waypoint for many boaters in terms of distance. It’s also a natural waypoint in terms of marine topography: The approach depth at mean low water is 12 feet, and there are no bridges between Bridgeport Harbor and the Long Island Sound.

Since the early 1980s, developers with fanciful ideas have been saying they want to redevelop the area known as Steel Point, a peninsula just south of Bridgeport’s downtown. Plans have come and gone, as have the developers themselves, and then the dilapidated structures that were there finally went away too. Christoph, who once owned the Bahia Mar marina in Fort Lauderdale along with several others, says he started working on taking over the Bridgeport site nearly two decades ago.

“I’ve been working on this project for approximately 19 years,” he says. “The City of Bridgeport was looking for somebody to develop 55 acres on the waterfront. There were several yacht clubs, an oyster company, a steel plant—they were being relocated. Nothing was wrong, but the city was going through a process of condemnation.”

His vision at the location is for a boater’s recreational mecca, including waterfront dining, shopping, concerts and marine services. A marina with 200 slips for yachts as long as 300 feet is now completed, and there’s a 150,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops, a Starbucks, a Chipotle and a T-Mobile store. Christoph’s company, Bridgeport Landing Development, also built a 44,000-square-foot waterfront building that houses the dockmaster, office space and the Boca Oyster Bar restaurant.

About a thousand boaters tried out the new marina slips and the restaurant last summer, according to Christoph. “They enjoyed Bridgeport Harbor in a way they haven’t in a hundred years,” he says of the marina’s first clients. “A lot of people don’t know it exists, so we’ll be hosting boat shows in June and September. We’ll have a yacht and charter show in June. We think it’s important to have the show in the summer to show people what’s available, and then in September there will be another boat show.”

Also part of the growing development is the old Derecktor Shipyard site, which is across Bridgeport Harbor from the marina. The yard is now called Bridgeport Boatworks, and it has 75- and 200-ton Travelifts, repair services, a paint shop, and outside as well as heated inside winter storage. The next phase of development is expected to include waterfront apartments and, if lawmakers agree, a resort and casino. The process of getting the gaming permit will take some time and quite a lot of lobbying; a new casino would compete with the Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun casinos, which are farther from the population mecca of New York City than the new Bridgeport casino would be. “We are partnered up with MGM Resorts International to bring a hotel and entertainment facility to Connecticut,” Christoph says. “We’re working on that with legislation, for a hotel-casino.”

For this summer, though, boaters will be able to get their first look at the completed marina and restaurant. Seasonal slips are available, with security cameras, access card-controlled gangways, pedestal-mounted water and power (30-, 50- and 100-amp), in-slip pump-out, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a fuel dock with diesel and gasoline. The marina also has air-conditioned bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities.

Those types of amenities are important, Christoph says, based on his own experience owning a San Juan 48 powerboat and a J/121 sailboat. He has cruised to marinas in the Northeast as well as on the Great Lakes, and, like most boaters, wants to be comfortable when he is tied up at the dock.

“The majority of the marinas in the Northeast are older facilities that modern boats have outgrown, either in beam or in power,” Christoph says. “A 50-foot boat can take up to 100 amps. Some of these Ferrettis and the new Hatterases, there’s just so much electronic gear on them, it pulls. It trips the breakers all the time. We have three-phase and power for the megayachts down to 30-amp boats. Depends on the slip. We built it for the boats of today and of the future.”

Individual cruisers are of course welcome, Christoph says, adding that “we also have manufacturers and rendezvous coming, fishing tournaments, sailing regattas—that is all part of the future.”

“Stamford went through its building boom, and I think the next city to go through that building boom is Bridgeport.”

And when boaters come to the city, he says, they can enjoy music. The old Ballpark at Harbor Yard, where the Bridgeport Bluefish used to round the bases, is becoming a LiveNation amphitheater open from spring through fall—coinciding with the region’s prime boating months. Much of the original ballpark seating will remain, with a stage going up where center field used to be, and new seating added at stage level. The arena will hold 5,500 people for concerts and other performances.

Boaters won’t be able to anchor in the harbor on concert days the way they do for events such as the Newport Jazz Festival (too much ferry traffic would make doing so a hazard in Bridgeport), but the location of the new amphitheater should be a boon for marina patrons. “It’s about 200 yards from the water,” Christoph says. “You could dock at the marina and listen, or dock here, have dinner here at Boca Oyster Bar and go to a show. We’re looking to create a full-service destination.”

As for anyone who has lingering doubts about Bridgeport as a destination because of its history, which included a fair share of blight and crime, Christoph says the time he has spent in the city recently erases all concerns. While the city’s past may have been an obstacle to redevelopment, he says, its present is increasingly modern. For Bridgeport, as with other cities in Connecticut, including Stamford, redevelopment is taking place at a fast clip.

View full article on Soundings >