Fort Pierce business owner ‘disappointed’ city won’t get Bright Line station

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Brightline’s next stop isn’t Fort Pierce. The news was confirmed by WPTV on Monday, which revealed that Stuart will instead be the next stop on the Treasure Coast High Speed ​​Rail.

“Yeah, I’m really disappointed,” said Stacey Dunn, owner of The Cake Lady in Fort Pierce.

Chris Gilmore/WPTV

The announcement came as a huge disappointment to downtown Fort Pierce business owners like Dunn, who said they had high hopes.

“Everyone was looking forward to Brightline. I don’t know anyone who was against it,” Dunn said.

Beryl Muiz, owner of Notions and Potions, agreed that Fort Pierce would have been the perfect location for a Treasure Coast station.

Chris Gilmore/WPTV

“When I first came here eight years ago, it was a ghost town, and you can see it’s developing, but it still has that small-town charm and hasn’t lost that,” Muse said. Told.

A banner still hung next to Fort Pierce City Hall Monday inviting the opportunity to build a Bright Line station.

Chris Gilmore/WPTV

“Well, I have to walk through that sign every day to get to work,” Dan said. Everyone here wants to know that. ”

Despite WPTV’s efforts, there was no official announcement or confirmation of the news from the city of Fort Pierce on Monday. City leaders responded only via email, saying, “The city has no comment on Brightline at this time.”

The City Clerk’s Office told our team that requests for further information could take up to two weeks. Our crew did not encounter any city commissioners or city managers at City Hall on Monday.

WPTV found countless people like Dan and Muse disappointed.

“It would be very sad if they went somewhere else,” Dunn said.

Despite the lack of a broadcast station, Dunn said his hometown pride remains stronger than ever.

“Yes, I’m very proud. I love my city,” she said.