A Smooth Transition at the SpeakEasy

The time was right for both the Jones Restaurant Group and a partnership headed by Paulo Teixeira where The SpeakEasy of Marco Island is concerned.

Effective May 1, the Teixeira group became owners of the 1920s Chicago-themed, waterside, seafood enhanced eatery located off Collier Boulevard in the Chamber of Commerce Plaza.

Michael Jones and Kent Ward, of Marco, and Jones’ brother Mark, of Lely, are the Jones Restaurant Group’s principal owners. They purchased The SpeakEasy in 2018 from Marco residents Tim McCoy, Dan Collardey, and Jimmy Boylan, who opened the restaurant’s doors in 2014.

The motivation for the sale is simple, explained Jones, who, along with his son Brandon, owns Buffalo Wild Wings, the Indiana-based restaurant chain that has 34 locations in seven states.

“We owned it eight years and I'm 75 years old, so it's time to relax,” he said with a chuckle.

The SpeakEasy’s principal owner is Teixeira, in partnership with the restaurant’s day-to-day management team of Cindy Marotta, Robert “Bobby” Nash, and Wade Mundinger.

No major changes are planned.

“We like the place as is,” said Teixeira. “We are going to do a bit of a refresh on the space. And hopefully, if we get the right permits, to extend the patio roof toward the water for the convenience of the guests and the staff. But the staff remains the same. The chef remains basically the same. The menu will remain the same, with some specials added from time to time.”

He is also an owner of Lift Insight and Capital Partners, a Memphis-based consulting and investment company. He and his wife, Priscilla, have enjoyed The SpeakEasy since it opened, a key reason he was interested in becoming an owner.

“We like the atmosphere and all of that, so that was really attractive,” he said. “Mike (Jones) was in the process of selling both of his restaurants on the island. We talked about this one and the deal came together. It’s simply liking the place and given that we spend a lot of time on the island, deciding to take that jump. And here we are.”

Teixeira is focused on The SpeakEasy retaining a welcoming vibe for guests, particularly for those for whom it’s a local hangout.

“This place has always been a little bit iconic and popular on the island, with locals and tourists alike,” he said. “We value that local participation in the restaurant. That local flair, to me, is important and we would like to maintain and possibly enhance it.”

The SpeakEasy of Marco Island is located at 1106 N. Collier Blvd. For more information, please visit speakeasymarco.com/ or call 970-2929.