EDDIE Spence, a restaurateur of Orange Beach in Alabama, had his plans of opening a Bob Marley eatery placed on pause when it struck a wrong chord with residents in that community recently.

According to al.com, the charge against Spence’s plans was led by Linda Bradley, wife of the Orange Beach Planning Commission chairman, Al Bradley.

MARLEY… died in May of 1981 of cancer ——

“We just don’t believe we should have to hear reggae and concert music seven days a week from 11 in the morning to 2 am,” said Bradley, who lives across from the proposed site.

“This is an open-air music venue, sandwiched between our homes and the state park. We just don’t believe that kind of a venue should be directly across from our homes. It’s our permanent homes, not beach rentals,” she said.

According to the article, she sent several letters to neighbours encouraging them to attend a council meeting on April 3 to oppose the project.

In February, the Planning Commission declined to recommend approval of Spence’s planned restaurant due to noise concerns with the project’s outdoor music venue.

It is alleged that Spence, who co-owns 13 Shrimp Baskets and other dining facilities, has been working with the Marley family to open the restaurant named after the late legendary reggae singer/songwriter.

Marley died in May of 1981 of cancer. He was 36.

The 10-acre site, which borders Gulf State Park, is owned by New York-based developer Mark Goldstein who plans to build the restaurant and lease it back to Spence. He also plans to build an adjacent 150-room hotel and a souvenir store.

Goldstein, according to the article, disagreed with the statements in Bradley’s letter referring to it as being “total propaganda and lies”.

Goldstein said that the erection of a Bob Marley restaurant is a key component to the project.

“My finance people have made it known that they want some type of business operation there before they will build a hotel,” Goldstein added.

Calls to Bob Marley Museum for a comment were referred to its New York office which rang without an answer.