A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Beach Bar, which was located on I street before being wiped out by Hurricane Ian, was held Thursday. About 200 people attended the ceremony to watch the Beach Bar staff and a host of muckety mucks flip the dirt.
Construction is expected to take about 12 months before the doors officially reopen. Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers and Lee County Commissioner Ray Sandelli highlighted how important it is to bring back mom-and-pop businesses to the beach.
The new building received final approval from the Fort Myers Beach Town Council last month. The project was unanimously approved by the LPA back in June.
The new Beach Bar, designed by Studio A.D. and to be built by Stevens Construction, will be located on its original site at 1668 I Street.
The 5,813-square-foot, three-story design will be built with durable materials such as simulated stucco siding and trim, composite soffits and a standing seam metal roof for greater longevity and storm resistance. The Beach Bar exterior includes yellow Bahama shutters to complement its logo.
The Beach Bar, an open-air, walk-up bar offering covered beachfront seating, retail area, storage and covered parking. The entire first floor is designed to be flexible should a storm be imminent and includes temporary cooler storage and restroom trailers, both of which can be easily relocated. Marine-grade cabinetry is also used to endure harsh coastal elements such as sunlight and saltwater exposure. Additionally, The Beach Bar is equipped with turtle-friendly glass and lighting to protect hatching sea turtles by controlling beachfront illumination.
The Beach Bar first opened back in 1965. The new 3-story building will be 10,000 square feet. The first floor is designed to provide customers with a unique experience in keeping with its festive small-town vibe, and will house an open-air bar, stage and restroom trailer. Seating will still be out on the beach as it was before the storm.
Musical acts that perform at The Beach Bar are primarily Blues focused.
Follow the Beach Bar on Facebook HERE.
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