The owner of the popular mom-and-pop hardware store on Fort Myers Beach has submitted pre-application documents to rebuild his store on Estero Boulevard. Goodz owner Graham Belger says he’s meeting with the town tomorrow and hopes to have drawings for his new building soon.
The Goodz pre-application states that Graham will be looking for 3 rental units and office space on a second floor of his new building that was not there before, and retain the existing parking spaces he had along Miramar street.The store would also include 6,800 square feet of retail space.
Yes, Graham also plans to continue to sell ice cream, which is unique to a hardware store, but was very popular with customers at his previous location at 1741 Estero Boulevard. The Thursday meeting with the town will help Graham understand what variances he might need to build his new building.
Since April of 2023 The Goodz has been operating out of a 20 by 35 foot trailer across the street from the former location.
Belger has owned The Goodz since 2013, having just celebrated his 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 Belger purchased it and changed the name to The Goodz. A slugline was added under the new store name; “Your Island Everything Store.”
The store offered more than hardware. Tourists could also get Fort Myers Beach t-shirts, beach gear and some of the best ice cream on the island. And if there was something a local resident needed and Belger didn’t have it in stock, he’d make sure to get it for the customer the next time they came in. Residents would often say if The Goodz didn’t sell it, you didn’t need it.
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.
Belger grew up on Fort Myers Beach but has lived off the island since 2016.
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