Bonita Springs, on Florida’s west coast, is about to get one of the most unusually-shaped bingo halls ever seen. A building shaped like a Spanish galleon, originally built as a restaurant, was purchased for use as a bingo hall.

The bingo hall will be the fourth business in the building since it was built in 1995. Originally, it was built as an add-on to a restaurant called Springs Garden. The owners had it built using plans designed by an Italian movie company for a ship used in a movie set. The ship was called the Bonita Chop Shop, and when it failed, the new owners called it Bogert’s Chop House. After a second flop as a chops place, a third proprietor, Alberto Russo, converted it into the V.I.P. Club, which was set up for dinner and dancing.

October 2004 saw the ship’s next turn. Russo hung a large banner across the ship’s prow, offering it for lease or sale. The new proprietors will be leasing with an option to buy, and they plan to turn the ship into a bingo club. The ship has already passed its fire inspection, and is planned to open on August 15, 2005.