Graham and Meagan Belger own The Goodz on Fort Myers Beach. Four years ago Hurricane Ian destroyed their popular retail on Estero Boulevard. On August 15th they will put the first shovels in the ground igniting a long awaited rebuild.
The project was approved by the town in December of 2024. Graham expects the build to take about a year. After announcing the ground breaking, Graham told Beach Talk Radio, “I didn’t fight to rebuild because it was the easy choice. I fought because I love this island, I gre up here, I believe in its future, and I wanted to be part of bringing it back.”
On the ground level will be the “hardware store” that sells everything including ice cream. The upstairs will be an arcade for kids and a pizza restaurant that also serves beer and wine.
With Michael Stewart P.E. part of this rebuild the structure will be built to withstand the strongest Category 5 Hurricane.
Since April of 2023 The Goodz has been operating out of a trailer across the street from the former location.
The Belger’s have owned The Goodz since 2013, having just celebrated their 9th year in September of 2022. The building has been home to a hardware store on Fort Myers Beach for decades. It was called Jay’s General Store before the Belger’s purchased it and changed the name to The Goodz. A slugline was added under the new store name; “Your Island Everything Store.”
Like nearly every structure on Fort Myers Beach, hurricane Ian delivered a devastating blow to The Goodz, gutting the building. Nearly everything inside was sucked out of the building and lost during the storm. The building was demolished a few months ago.
Graham Belger grew up on Fort Myers Beach but has lived off the island since 2016.