Vera's Shines Again

Twelve years ago, Stanley moved to White Sands from Prince George's. He had just weathered a divorce and wanted a new start on the water.

"But when I got down here, I thought I made a big mistake," Stanley said. "I was bored to death. I knew no one, and I had nowhere to go."

So he went to the only place around: Vera's. The empress herself began having a martini with him every weekend. The two became friends as business waned and the place aged.

Since Freeman made her offer in January, Stanley and Del Ricco have been trying to do a job in six months that would take contractors years. It's tough -- the couple have two children still at home, a paving business in Annapolis Junction and a restaurant to raise from the dead.

"It wears on you, the 'Why are you even doing it?' " Stanley said. "But a good night's sleep always changes things."

Stanley has been cashing in favors from friends in various trades, and the teamwork is paying off. Rotted wood and the thatched reed ceiling have been replaced. Banana trees have been planted outside, as in the old days.

The new Vera's will be updated, more populist, a destination for families and fishermen instead of dapper yachtsmen. The food will be fresh and served in generous portions, but there will be no $50 lobster tail. There will be air conditioning, a stereo system and flat-screen TVs. The slips out front will be downsized to accommodate smaller, faster boats.

And once the rebirth of Vera's is complete, Del Ricco will inherit the dynasty as the restaurant's general manager and Stanley will stick to running his paving company.

"Vera's dream is to see this place fixed up," Stanley said. "This is everything she ever wanted in her life. She chose me out of people who wanted to pay more."

He swept his hand across the view. From the elevated deck, there is an illusion that the restaurant is a ship, cleaving down sparkling St. Leonard's Creek.

"Somewhere in this place must be a fountain of youth," Stanley said. "Maybe it's in the martinis. But it works for Vera."

The Empress Approves

The white Chrysler pulled into the dusty parking lot. The exterior of the restaurant shimmered with fresh paint. The grounds were sodded and manicured. Vera's White Sands had been given more than a facelift: It had a new lease on life.