Life on Fort Myers Beach

TOP NEWS

Have you shopped here?

Iconic Topps Grocery to Soon Close

To a generation of Fort Myers Beach islanders and visitors, Topps Supermarket has been the friendly neighborhood grocery store just across from the beach. Its 22-year run sadly ends, however, the latter part of this month. “We had a 20-year lease when we first opened in 1996,” related Dave Carney, who co-owns Topps with his wife, Debbie. “That came with several extension options, but the owner of the shopping center, who lives in Tampa, took measures to break that, and it takes a ton of money to battle that in the courts. We fought as long as we could, even trying to buy the property at one time, because we had bigger plans, but eventually you bow to the inevitable. It’s sad, as I intended to stay another 20 years, so my kids could retire from here, too.” This will close the book for Dave on a lifetime in the grocery business. “I started when I was 14 years old, cleaning up the meat cutting area in a family-owned grocery store in Hamburg, New York. I married at age 18 and we had our first child when I was 19, so I needed a career, got involved with an upstate New York grocery chain called ‘Tops,’ and worked my way up.”  FULL STORY

FMB Town Council Unanimously Approves TPI-FMB

On Monday morning, April 9, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council unanimously approving the TPI-FMB Downtown Redevelopment Proposal seemed no less so. By early Tuesday afternoon on April 10, however, after almost a decade-and-a-half of seemingly endless community debate and dialog following the downtown area’s devastation from Hurricane Charley in 2004, and more than 12 hours of conversation and questions over a two-day period, Council did the seemingly improbable by unanimously approving the redevelopment project. Perhaps to many Town residents, Tuesday’s vote was a foregone conclusion following Monday’s marathon session of almost 9 hours. For Monday’s meeting, people lined up outside the locked Town Hall doors at 8 a.m., with the roughly 75 Council Chamber chairs full by 8:20 a.m., with other 50 or so folks viewing the process in an adjacent outside tent and viewscreen. By the time Tuesday’s session began at 9 a.m., however, residents filled less than half the Council Chamber seats, with the viewing tent empty.  FULL STORY

Restore FMB Arches to Host Two Events

While the attention of Fort Myers Beach residents this week centered on whether there would be a new development in their future on the south side of the Matanzas Pass Bridge, a local group continues their efforts to replace a piece of the community’s past on the span’s north end! Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, Inc., hosts a landscaping event to rejuvenate one of the last original stone arch elements on Thursday, April 19, then has its first large-scale fundraiser with a music festival at Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Café on Saturday evening, May 5, at 4 p.m. Developer Tom Phillips built the stone arches in 1924 as the intended entrance to a housing subdivision that never came into existence. They remained there until their 1979 demolition to construct the Matanzas Pass Bridge. To several generations of islanders and visitors, they were the ultimate “Welcome” symbol, as the minute you passed through them, you knew you were on Fort Myers Beach, with children for decades climbing over the top of them as a local ritual!  FULL STORY

FUN ISLAND EVENTS

• Friday, April 13th

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
10am, Lovers Key State Park. Take a mile-long guided hike along the Black Island Trail with a park ranger to learn about thefascinating vegetation and wildlife that reside in this maritime hammock. Free with park entry. Reservations required. 239-463-4588.

SUNSET CELEBRATION
5-10pm, Times Square. Gather in Times Square to watch the sun set and enjoy food & fun, plus a free live music concert with High Tide.

• Saturday, April 14th

BUNCHE BEACH BIRDS
7:30am, Bunche Beach. Enjoy this beautiful beach and birding site with a Bird Patrol Guide. Bunche is an excellent spot for both migrant and resident waders and shorebirds working the mudflats at low tide. Also warblers, waterfowl and raptors. Free with paid parking ($2/hour) Bring binoculars, sun protection, shoes that can get wet & water. For more info call 707-3015.

COMMUNITY SPAGHETTI DINNER
5-7pm, Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church. Community meal and all are invited. Menu Spaghetti & Meatballs, Spicy Sausage and Peppers & Onions, Salad, Garlic Bread, Dessert, coffee & cold drinks. Tickets $10/adult; kids 10 and under Free; $5 Public Safety personnel in uniform or with ID.

SUNSET CELEBRATION
5-10pm, Times Square. Gather in Times Square to watch the sun set and enjoy food & fun, plus a free live music concert with Tiger Blue.

FEATURED PROPERTIES ON FORT MYERS BEACH


NEW LISTING

11381 Capistrano CT Fort Myers, FL, 33908 

CLOSE TO BEACHES 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath POOL Home w/ In-law suite on a large lot. Great cul-de-sac street neighborhood with pride of ownership evident up and down the street. Close to grocery, shopping, restaurants, etc. Tons of potential in this pool home.

251 Dundee RD Fort Myers Beach, FL, 33931 

 

CHARMING & IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED FORT MYERS BEACH ELEVATE COTTAGE nestled on a meticulous park-like lot located on the quiet South end of the island and only steps to the WHITE SANDY BEACH. Two under building parking spaces, utility room, outdoor shower, and storage space. TWO screened balconies, one in front and one off the kitchen/dining overlooking the rear park like yard. This home comes with a 1 YEAR HOME PROTECTION PLAN. A MUST SEE....WILL NOT LAST LONG AT THIS PRICE!!

Phillip Babcock

 

Lahaina Realty on Fort Myers Beach  239-994-4572  Follow this link to search for all properties for sale in South West Florida www.fortmyersbeachwaterfront.com 
For a free evaluation of your home or condo current value go to www.FreeFortMyersHomeValues.com you will receive 3  recent property sales and 3 current properties for sale, and the current market value of your property. Receive a Free Home Warranty, value $450.00, with each property purchase or listing above $150,000  

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