Airborne Bella

They say, “move to a Caribbean island and live the dream”!  So, I did. My name is Bella and when I was 20, my father died just after retirement but before he could enjoy it.  I vowed then that I would retire at age 50 and enjoy the final chapter of my life. While others kept up with the Jones’s, I kept up with my retirement account. While on vacation in 2016. I bought a ½ acre hillside parcel with fantastic views on the main road on the island of Roatan. I found the island on Google maps, searching for a destination to call my own.  I was in the middle of a divorce and didn’t quite know what I was going to do with my property, but it was all mine.  For the next 3 years, I worked, saved and dreamed big. In 2019, I’d finally had enough with corporate and government life, enough with the rat race, and enough of the disheartening cultural and political animosity in the USA. 

I was ready to build myself a little sanctuary complete with Caribbean water views, tropical fruit trees, meandering pathways through the yard and gardens, extensive security, pool and water features and make it a restaurant destination so friends can come relax for the afternoon or evening while enjoying fresh selections from my menu.  It took 20 months to build, including Covid shut-down where I was locked down at my half-finished building with no one to see or talk to except the builder’s watchman for quite a while.  I actively directed and participated in the design, build, and development of the entire property. I loved doing that and even brought my own pink hard-hat from my previous career.  You’ll see my finishing touches all over the  building and land.  Bella’s Place Roatan was born in September 2020 and continues to be more beautiful with each passing year.

When I moved to Roatan, I set about making a new 5-year plan to prove to myself and the naysayers that I can build, create and develop a thriving business. The restaurant has been open almost 4 years now. Since my life goal isn’t to run a restaurant long term, this slow season (May-Sept), I’ve opted to only open the business for group reservations, live-music pool parties, or special events. Doing so allows me to complete the remaining build-out that I haven’t had time to do and to prepare everything for a new owner to create their own vision.

I’m ready to start a new adventure somewhere else in Latin America or Southern Europe.  Let’s see if Bella’s Place is the right place for your next adventure too!

SUMMARY OF PROPERTY:  This ½ acre unique Mediterranean style restaurant and home was designed for further development of a boutique resort with 5 rental units and clubhouse terraced on hillside on the main road with near 180 degree unobstructed & stunning north shore sunset water views. Architectural plans/drawings and builder budget for phase 2 is available.  For a buyer looking for a large estate home, the versatile restaurant area can easily be converted into upscale living space instead.  It is approximately 5 years old and has solid concrete block and slab construction with Italian archways, pillars, and balustrades for a timeless design.  It is completely fenced with 3-ft concrete block base and 6ft coated chain-link fence topped with razor wire.  A private concrete driveway/parking area with sliding gate is separate from the public parking areas with access to the back door of restaurant. There is an ADA ramp with a separate gate to access the main restaurant from parking area.  The property entry way is a large castle-style wood gate with metal frame as well as a second wrought-iron gate and fountain at archway and 8 ft Italian seascape inset wall mural. The profitable, turn-key, well known restaurant has an open kitchen design with 2 wet/dry storage casitas, vaulted ceilings in kitchen, 2 custom concrete bars, gas stove and electric pizza oven, island prep area, indoor dining areas with water views, and 2 bathrooms (4 stalls) including ADA compliant toilet stalls. The restaurant floors are gorgeous metal epoxy in a swirled bronze color and the ceilings have sky murals as well as an incredible Michaelangelo “The Creation of Adam” ceiling mural as focal entry point. The main level restaurant also has outdoor covered seating areas and a small wine cellar.  Rooftop covered dining areas provide stunning garden to ocean sunset views. Wood pool deck area has both covered and sunbathing areas, an outdoor shower, 2 changing rooms with toilets in each and the infinity pool has built in concrete stools adjacent to pool bar with sink below the arched staircase. The underwater pool lights are operated by remote control and the infinity wall is tiled as the Honduran flag.  Below the restaurant is a stunning whiskey/cigar bar with 2 entry points, custom wall mural illusion of brick tunnel, locking 6-ft bar unit, 9-unit locking cigar cubbies, music stage area, air-conditioning and carbon filtration.  This room could easily convert to a theater.  The home is 2-story with open design, tall ceilings with fan/lights throughout, tile floors, double-paned vinyl windows with screens and custom Italian-style curved window bars on main level, and neutral colors.  Owner’s quarter upstairs has access door to restaurant, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom which has large open mosaic floor shower with partial glass block wall and custom glass sink walk-in closet, gorgeous privacy sliding barn door, ample living space with wet-bar, mini-frig, and microwave on granite topped cabinet with glass sink, wall wine cabinet as well as large outdoor private access deck overlooking the grounds/ocean and outdoor shower.  The downstairs is separated from owner’s unit by farm style split locking door and a front door access.  It has 1-bedroom, full kitchen including 2 islands and double sink, gas stove living room, and 1 bathroom with large open shower with mosaic base and laundry closet containing large capacity LG washer/dryer. Below the home is a separately accessed bedroom casita that can be used for watchman quarters or overnight guests. The entire grounds are incredibly landscaped to include seeded yard, multiple concrete seating areas and additional fountain, Outdoor wedding spot, brick/stone firepit, pathways meandering through the terraced gardens, and a broad variety of flowering plants and maturing fruit trees such as coconut, banana, plantain, pineapple, lime, avocado, cashew, papaya and mango trees.  Herb gardens are located just outside the restaurant kitchen door.  Multiple security features and electricity/water savings measures are incorporated into the entire design.