Success in Palmetto since 1988 Since 1988 when the VanDerNoord Family purchased the Regatta Marina, they have been continually supportive of the local community and a testament to local successful business development. Harry VanDerNoord and his family moved to Manatee County in 1985 and shortly thereafter purchased the rights to the Palmetto City Marina.
The family showcased great vision for the future of this iconic Palmetto waterfront site, when many others failed to do so.
The marina was the first to see growth after an extensive remodel of the marina growing from 100 to the over 350 boat slips we see today – including all the modern structures we are familiar with at the marina including the 22,000 square foot Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant. When Harry VanDerNoord’s sons, Peter and Doug, took over the properties in the early 2000s they successfully continued to run the family marina until 2018 when they sold it to Safe Harbor – one of the largest marina operators in the United States. During the sale of the business, the brothers retained the restaurant property and have grown it into a location serving over 275,000 customers annually.
Most recently, the brothers opened a second- floor event space of 5,000 square feet that can host 150 persons in three distinct areas.
A Continued Commitment to the Community
Since the inception of the Bradenton Area River Regatta 11 years ago, the VanDerNoords have helped sponsor, support, and grow this event into the largest powerboat race in North America, including 6 years with Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant as a race sponsor. This year, the Riverhouse, along with their sister company Urban Taco, provided 300 lunches and 250 dinners at cost to help support setup crews and support staff who worked this amazing event. Starting at 6am on Saturday morning, they served almost 100 breakfast meals to first responders including members of the police, fire, EMS, and bomb squad free-of-charge.
Riverhouse, and most recently Urban Taco, continue the family-owned tradition of the VanDerNoords serving the community for almost four decades. For details on how to enjoy a fine dining experience on the Manatee River and to come out and support the VanDerNoord family, please visit riverhousefl.com
