Officials to discuss moving restaurant

Associated Press

COVINGTON, Ky.

After a floating restaurant broke away from its moorings this month and floated downriver with more than 80 people on board, the Covington City Commission will meet Monday to work on plans to give the restaurant a permanent home at Covington Landing.

The Waterfront restaurant is docked temporarily at Covington Landing, upstream from its old location, after the restaurant floated about 85 yards down the Ohio River on March 11. There were no injuries, but patrons had to be rescued with ladders and ropes.

The city commission plans to meet with an engineering firm to discuss options to secure the restaurant permanently at the landing and what infrastructure would be needed.

The restaurant’s owner, Jeff Ruby, said after the accident that he was unsure whether he wanted to reopen, but City Manager Larry Klein told The Kentucky Enquirer that city officials encouraged him to reopen. Ruby did not immediately return a message seeking comment Saturday.

Klein said the city commission would have to approve hiring an engineering firm, but he considered it a good investment not just for the restaurant.

“To a reasonable extent, it is worth spending money, not just for this particular restaurant or incident,” Klein said. “The city has long-term plans to make riverfront development happen in the city. The information we gather here will help us further toward that goal. With the Waterfront for the moment, we want to look at the feasibility of floating restaurants.”

It was not clear what caused the restaurant to pull away from its moorings, but it did not sustain heavy damage. The Ohio River was above flood stage when the accident happened, and other riverfront restaurants had closed.