Suzie Q’s Gets 6 Month Extension

On Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council extended Suzie Bahan’s permit to operate a food truck and serve alcohol at 163 Old San Carlos Blvd. That permit comes up for review every 6 months.

Before Hurricane Ian Bahan was granted a Consumption on Premise permit for 185 Old San Carlos, a building she owned. Hurricane Ian not only severely damaged the building at 185, it wiped out the building Bahan owned at 163. Eventually the retail shop Bahan owned at 163 was demolished. She then asked the town to transfer the COP permit she was approved for at 185 over to 163 so she could operate outside while she worked through whether to repair or demolish the building at 185.

One of the conditions of the permit is “to ensure the applicant is making progress towards the reconstruction of 185 Old San Carlos.” As of today, there are no applications for permits in the town’s portal. Bahan explained to the Town Council that she’s fighting her FEMA-backed insurance company for a payout she received then the insurance company, without explanation, put a stop on her check. 

Bahan also said she received an extension form Fort Myers Beach Building Inspector Joe Specht who red-tagged the building because he says it’s unsafe. In November of 2024 Specht informed Bahan that the structure needed to be demolished. He said that the condition of the building leads him to believe it “appears likely to partially or fully collapse.” He called it a public nuisance.

Bahan is trying to save the structure. She’s hoping to get an appraisal on the building in the next ten days. She has a contractor ready to crunch the numbers to see if the building can be repaired under FEMA’s 50% rule. IF not, she plans to sell the property. 

Bahan was our guest on Beach Talk Radio Saturday at Margaritaville. You can watch that interview HERE.