Custody battle brewing over Woody's restaurant

Since the 1940s, diners at Woody's Waterfront Cafe and Beach Bar., a small seaside restaurant in St. Pete Beach, have enjoyed fresh seafood while taking in the relaxing sights and sounds of the gulf. While loyal Woody's customers still flock to the restaurant daily to enjoy blackened fish sandwiches and the scent of the sea, there may now be a sour hint of strife in the air as well.

According to papers filed in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court, David George and Marlene George, the husband-and-wife co-owners of the establishment, are involved in a bitter divorce that has taken a toll on the restaurant. Allegations of public drunkenness and verbal abuse on restaurant premises have been leveled in the dispute, and now both parties are battling for control of the business. David George, 61, and Marlene George, 65, have been married since 1972 and have owned Woody's since 1989.

The battle began in November 2007, when Marlene George filed divorce papers. Then in August 2008 she asked the court for temporary possession of Woody's, claiming that her husband's behavior was interfering with the business. She claimed that in addition to allowing the premises of the restaurant to deteriorate, her husband showed up to work while intoxicated and has verbally abused her while drunk.

According to her allegation, George "made vulgar and disparaging comments" about his wife to other employees. She also claimed that her husband "made improper sexual comments to an employee."

Both co-owners and their respective attorneys declined to comment on current legal battles, but George did say that the bitter dispute has not affected the number of customers dining at Woody's. "Our business is up," he said Tuesday in a phone call. "I'm here all the time and I can tell you that things are looking good for the business."

Yet in a separate lawsuit, George is suing his wife, claiming that her allegedly inappropriate behavior has caused Woody's to lose a substantial amount of business. He is asking the court to intervene to stop his wife's disruptive interference in the business.

Among the allegations filed in his suit, George is claiming that his wife has screamed at him in the presence of customers and demanded that he leave the restaurant. George also claimed that his wife has leveled false charges of domestic violence against him, and that she has called police at least three times since July to have him removed from the restaurant.

In addition, his lawsuit claims that Woody's made $278,450 in the first three quarters of 2008, but that he only received 37 percent, or $103,000, of those funds when he should have received 50 percent. George has also claimed that vendors aren't being paid, that his wife has not allowed him access to the business' financial records, that she has "continually harassed" him and has changed the mailing address for Woody's without telling him.

Through her attorney, Marlene George declined to comment on the specifics of the case, referring a reporter instead to the court documents.

"I've been eating at Woody's seven days a week for a few years," said Sky Coltrane, 66, a loyal patron.

"All I know is that they have some of the best seafood in town, that's all that matters."

Comments on this article

by Vinny	Dec 9, 2008 2:47 PM
It seems a small tornado on an opportune track might be just the tonic. No more divorce court battle, neighbor feuds, steep prices, lousy food, warm beer, or poor service. Everyone wins except the insurance company. That's an added bonus.

by Aikidoka	Dec 9, 2008 2:46 PM
Props Dave. You'll get through it all right. Mushin!

by Barback	Dec 9, 2008 2:46 PM
Karma...I'm a local and an ex-employee...I've never been treated so poorly as an employee or seen customers treated with such disrespect by the owners and management. They always looked for a battle...now they've found a war...Karma!!!

by Rich	Dec 9, 2008 2:46 PM
They have location, location, location. It is a dive bar for sure. But what a view. The food is no doubt bar food and poor quality. They have never claimed to have fresh fish that I know of. The waiters will steer you towards acceptable choices.

by Jack	Dec 9, 2008 2:46 PM
Sure it's a dump, but a dump with charm, and reasonable prices to go with a great location. Go sit in Dockside Daves for good grouper, and stare at the four concrete walls while you eat. Woody's, please don't go away, we love you!

by scott	Dec 9, 2008 11:21 AM
Woody"s is a classic St Pete Beach DUMP. There is not a single place fit to eat in St Pete beach. It's The worst beach in Pinellas County. Go north if you want something thats worth eating like Johns Pass. St Pete Beach turns my stomach.THUMBS DOWN!!

by Karl	Dec 9, 2008 11:21 AM
Most of the beach restaurants have AWFUL service. New owners come in and hire the same bad-attitude employees that broke the previous owner.

by Gerry	Dec 9, 2008 11:21 AM
I go for the entertainment and the blackened chicken wraps. Great one man band too makes you want to hang around for a while.

by Sam	Dec 9, 2008 11:21 AM
Woody's never served fresh seafood! Their food is gross and unhealthy! I went there one time and never went back. I ordered a piece of broiled something or another which was supposed to be grouper (HA joke's on me). It was unedible! Close it down!

by kazmir	Dec 9, 2008 11:21 AM
Jim and Pattie crack me up..."once you get to know them"...haha, now THATS customer service!

by Chloe	Dec 9, 2008 11:20 AM
Who cares and again, who cares?

by Jo	Dec 8, 2008 3:51 PM
All these comments make me want to go see if all is true. Never even heard of the place. Wow, what a negative ad.

by Jeff	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
I like the wharf restaraunt on passagrille better myself

by Joe	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
Talk about airing out your dirt laundry...been going to woody's a lot for quite some time and its a great place in the best location on st. pete beach. The food is average but the servers there are awesome. It's like a watching a great sitcom.

by Heidi	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
The last time I had "fresh" seafood there was about 20 years ago. Even the wonderful setting can't get me to go there again.

by Rich	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
These people have treated their neighbors with pathological hostility for more than a decade. I'm embarrassed that I had their sticker on my car, my first year @ Stetson. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

by Paul	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
Don't be fooled. This( NEWS) would cost a fortune in the Times if it was an ad. Way to go Woody's. You Got them.

by long time patron	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
dave is the only lively one there, marlene hires the staff and that where the rude treatment by waitresses comes from. good luck dave

by AJ	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
They hate locals! We have given them more than a few chances too. We are not roudy or rude, and tip 20%. One time the waiter and owner basically hovered behind us, assuming we were going to skip on the check! There's better views elsewhere.

by Ted	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
You reap what you sow.Those people have been nasty to local's & neighbor's for years. Hope they sell to settle their difference's. That neighborhood will be a lot better off for it. P.S. The fruit don't fall far from the tree.

by Tony	Dec 7, 2008 10:35 AM
I am a native and have eaten there many times-the food is below par--the veiw is the only thing good-it is a shame that most of our waterfront resturants are crap! Hurricane Woodys Cappys Gators Sloppy Joes-is ok Let the judge make them SELL!!

by Wally	Dec 5, 2008 10:04 PM
Wow !, now Woody's has live entertainment !!!

by Marshall	Dec 5, 2008 10:01 PM
Been going to Woody's for years. The food is ok but the view.. who could ask for more. I truly don't care what goes on behind the scene. Never had a problem with Dave, Marlene on the other hand RUDE!Servers can be testy but remember its hot outside.

by Swampchomper	Dec 5, 2008 8:32 PM
1st went to this place on my Harley about 5 yrs ago. After a short time I heard bikers were not welcomed. Spoke w/ Dave a few times, & he became friendly, so I went often. Terrific daytime barmaid, happy hour prices & nuclear wings.

by Neil	Dec 5, 2008 4:52 PM
We go to Woody's every time we are down in St. Pete, and I have to say the food is just decent, but I love eating by the water. If it wasn't for the view, it wouldn't be anything.

by Chip	Dec 5, 2008 2:50 PM
Lawyers love it when they have two stubborn parties duking it out over a cash cow. George, consider yourself lucky you got 37% of the proceeds. Wait'll you see the bills those guys will rack up while you and Marlene clobber each other. They love it.

by cisco kid	Dec 5, 2008 2:50 PM
The only thing I ever eat there is the wings,every thing else is so-so. The beer is expensive and they act like they're doing you a favor allowing you to be there,let alone getting even so-so service.They don't appreciate your bussiness.

by Ken	Dec 5, 2008 2:50 PM
Ditto to the good riddance. They are the epitome of entitled arrogance. I was treated like crap once and never returned. They should be forced to stay together just for fun.

by kenkle	Dec 5, 2008 2:50 PM
look forward to visiting every winter, the greasy food can't be beat anywhere. The view is super, and the beers are cheap. what else could you ask for!!!

by Jason	Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM
They knowingly served asian cat fish as grouper. I've never experienced a bigger tourist trap. Unfriendly to locals, poor service and low quality food.

by Matt	Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM
Hey JO... stop reading the articles you don't think are news worthy, no one cares what you think! If the paper only had "real" news worthy stories, it would be a one page newspaper!

by KK	Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM
How sad. I think they should sell and split the profits!

by Jay	Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM
All they had was a view nothing else.

by Craig	Dec 5, 2008 2:49 PM
I'd say it's newsworthy since it's the third-most commented article of the past few days. Just b/c you don't think it's newsworthy doesn't mean it isn't. The quantity of comments speaks for itself.

by Tracy	Dec 4, 2008 4:58 PM
Good riddance. It's about time they got what they have been dishing out for years. Worst customer serivce / managements I have ever seen. Sell it to someone who will appreciate the regulars!