The new plans for the Beach Theater on Estero Boulevard were getting a lot of love when we posted them on our Facebook page Thursday. Owner Steve Boge will submit his 2-level restaurant and bar idea to the LPA Tuesday. Here’s what he hopes to get approved.
The property at 6425 Estero Blvd was, for many years, the only movie theater on the island. Boge is proposing redeveloping the property as a restaurant and bar on the first level above flood and a bar with games and entertainment area on the open ground floor. The second story above flood will be used for storage and office space. There are no plans to continue showing movies.
Boge is also proposing changes to the building exterior, including: a deck with shade structure for restaurant seating on the first level above flood, that extends toward Estero Blvd approximately 15 feet, a wall along the rear of the building on the first floor to block sounds and light from the bar and entertainment area to the adjacent single-family residential property, a buffer with a fence along the property line adjacent to the single family residential property, and landscaping.
Boge will be asking for special exceptions to allow outdoor entertainment, to be able to serve alcohol outside, and for outdoor seating. He’ll need to ask for those due to the proximity of residential neighborhoods. Based on his plans, current town code would require Boge to have 115 parking spaces. He’s asking for a variance to allow him to have 33 spaces. The space under the building, which Boge wants to convert to an outdoor bar, was used for parking for the theater.
Town staff recommends approving the special exceptions for outdoor seating and serving alcohol outside but recommends denial for the outdoor entertainment request and recommends denial for the parking reduction variance.
Nick Campo owned the Beach Theater from 1999 until he sold it to Boge. The theater closed in May of 2022 when Boge purchased the building for $4 million, and was contemplating what to do with it. Then, of course, Hurricane Ian changed and delayed everything. Boge’s ownership group also purchased the 34-room Gulfview Manor Resort as part of the deal. The total for both properties was $19 million.
Local journalism is hard work. If you appreciate the most in-depth reporting on Fort Myers Beach, please support what we do HERE by Venmo, Zell or PayPal. Thank you.
After reading the comments above, here is my 2-cents:
1. “there are many options to get food and drink” – CS obviously you have not been to the south end of the island. Nearest restaurant is behind Publix
2. yes, loved the theatre but did you ever count the number of cars in the lot? Max I saw the four years before Ian was an ‘almost’ full lot on a very rainy day during season.
3. “if it wasn’t so dark on Estero at night” – Chris, have you seen the new lamposts being installed on Estero?
4. “a developer that doesn’t want parking” – Sam, he is not a developer, he is the owner. For the area the building is in the current parking would be quite suitable because of the amount of walking/biking traffic from area homes and condos.
5. IMO – the town’s parking code is ridiculously too high. you cannot create parking if there is no land to use.
6. Mangroves – he got caught, was financially penalized and agreed to replace after the dock is finished.
7. APPROVE THIS WITHOUT ANY CHANGES!!!!! Music is wonderful (remember Wyndham?) Outdoor dining and with adult beverages!!! (remember the Tiki bar at Outrigger?)
8. The south end really needs a locals hangout. (Outrigger, Wyndham are gone as well as the Shamrock at the north end)
My 2-cents worth, sorry for the rant, the coffee kicked in!
I love it here, from a full-time resident.
It takes about 20 years for mangroves to grow into any type of protection so I wonder how you “replace” mangroves. Just my 1 cent.
Good point, Chery.
Would love to see a movie theatre back on the island.
Surround it with whatever – but bring back family entertainment,
2024 movie theater tickets sales down 23.85% from 2023. 5681 movies screens shuttered in past 4 years. Movie theater is a losing cause. People are watching from home. Our days of going to the movies and nostalgia are moving in a new direction.
Presently, there are many options to get food and drink on the island. In the coming years, the number of options will increase exponentially. There was only one place to bring a family to watch a movie, and be able to eat and drink while watching it. There was a value proposition there that the owner is throwing away to become just another bar/restaurant. He had something that separated him from the competition. Something nobody else on the island had. Poor business decision in my view, and the island is lesser because of it.
A “parking variance” should not be an issue. There are no less than 9 condominiums and resort hotels within immediate walking distance of the old Beach Theater, not to mention the homes on streets going to the back bay. It is an ideal location to service walking traffic on the south end of the island. And sorely needed.
Yes, if only it wasn’t so dark on Estero at night. Especially in winter.
Another developer that doesn’t want to provide parking….
It’s not that developers don’t want to provide parking, no one living on the island wants the additional traffic that additional parking will generate. No more parking, no more cars, less traffic.
There were 34 spaces there pre-Ian; the proposal calls for 33.
“A developer”?? Is that how you refer to all businesses rebuilding after Ian?
They are actually making a significant cut to the amount of parking on site by cutting it almost in half. There were 31 required parking spots under the theater in addition to the 33 spots that were not under the building, which brought the total to 64 parking spots.
Same person complaining about traffic. Guess what no place to park, forces you to take public transportation or walk or bike.
What happened to all the mangroves that were illegally ripped out? Are they going to be replaced? Looks like there is a dock built in there place. Is that to attract boaters down the residential canal?
There is a tram stop right in front of this building. It could be perfect.
Agree this would be great for the mid and South end islanders! That area is in of more restaurants and bars.
Great news! The south end needs this! As long as the loud entertainment is done by 10 or 11, I think the neighborhood would be tolerant. We lost the outrigger, the place to go. Many of the local residents and renters in that area would not need parking. Maybe bring the free tram to the new town hall. Just a short walk to the Beach Theatre. We need to cut down the driving, the parking issue is a symptom of the larger issue.