Southwest Florida has been left in shock as 21 popular restaurants in the region have suddenly closed their doors, leaving food lovers disappointed and saddened. From well-established Greek restaurants to beloved pizza joints, the closures have taken residents and visitors by surprise.
One notable closure is Big Storm Brewing, which shut down three years after moving into its Cape Coral location. Another casualty is The Chicago Beef Guy, a renowned Chicago-style eatery that initially opened in 2014 before relocating to a larger space in 2017. Unfortunately, neither of these establishments was able to sustain their operations.
Even well-known establishments like Doc Ford’s, a Rum Bar & Grill, closed down their Captiva location without reopening. The closures have spanned various cuisines and locations, including The Doughnut Station, an ever-popular Fort Myers shop that permanently closed its doors in May after experiencing multiple closures since its opening in May 2022. Dutch-Way Café, a Pennsylvania Dutch-flavored restaurant in Fort Myers, also closed shortly after its May opening.
Cape Coral is no stranger to restaurant closures, with Duval Street, a restaurant known for its vibrant atmosphere, shutting down after more than three years in operation on SE 47th Terrace. The Gathering Place, a beloved Beacon Boulevard eatery, closed after nine years, but the owners quickly opened Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen in the same Fort Myers location to continue serving their loyal customers.
House of Pasta & Piano Bar, an authentic northern Italian restaurant near Cypress Lake Country Club, closed its doors on September 30, 2023. I Heart Mac & Cheese, a fast-casual restaurant near Cape Coral High School, also abruptly closed in October after less than eight months of operation. However, new owners have reportedly taken over and plan to hold a grand reopening soon.
Cape Coral’s pizza enthusiasts were disheartened by the sudden closure of I Ragazzi on Hancock Bridge Parkway after 16 years of serving up delicious pizzas. Meanwhile, Ichiyummy Sushi & Hibachi, an all-you-can-eat restaurant in Cape Coral, closed after opening in the former Empire Buffet spot on Del Prado in late 2016.
Other noteworthy closures include Joe Schmoe’s, a Del Prado restaurant that shut down shortly after opening in July, and Life: The Vegan Drive Thru, a popular vegan eatery in Cape Coral that permanently closed after 3½ years. Mitchell’s Bar-B-Q, which took over the space of Sonny’s BBQ on Winkler Road at the end of 2021, announced its closure in September.
Cape Coral’s dining scene also bid adieu to PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, a coffee shop that closed just four months after its grand opening due to franchise differences. Plaka on the Beach, a well-established Greek restaurant on Fort Myers Beach, was another victim, failing to reopen after hurricane damage and subsequently closing permanently with the land up for sale.
Poppa Don’s, a popular deli and catering business in Cape Coral, closed down on April 29 after less than a year in operation. Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm, a farm and restaurant in North Fort Myers, was sold according to an announcement made in September. Similarly, Sip & Dine, a casual fine dining restaurant in downtown Cape Coral with a loyal following, closed its doors after just a year.
Stillwater Grille, renowned for its Midwest hospitality, also closed suddenly after a decade of service on the corner of Cypress Lake Drive and McGregor Boulevard in May. Uva Vino & Tapas, a Portuguese-flavored tapas and wine restaurant near HealthPark Medical Center, announced its closure in September following the sudden death of its proprietor, Fernando Uva, who had opened Uva’s in August 2022.
These closures have undoubtedly left a void in the culinary scene of Southwest Florida, with patrons mourning the loss of their favorite dining establishments. As the region moves forward, it will be interesting to see what new culinary ventures arise to fill the void left by these beloved eateries.
