On Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council will consider whether or not to extend Suzie Bahan’s permit to operate a food truck and serve alcohol at 163 Old San Carlos Blvd. That permit is up for review.
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.
Bahan’s permit is reviewed every 6 months. 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. In November of 2024 Fort Myers Beach Building Inspector Joe Specht red-tagged 185 and 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.
6 months ago, the Town Council granted Bahan another 6 months to operate at 163 after she informed the town that she was battling her insurance company, which was why there were no permit applications yet for 185. She says she ready to go at 185. She says she has a structural engineer analysis, an appraisal scheduled, and a contractor ready to go. It’s all about getting the funding now, which she’s been fighting her insurance company and FEMA for.
The Town Council is in a bit of a bind here. When Bahan requests another 6 months to operate (and she told us she plans to ask for at least that, if not more), if her request is denied, this council will come across as if they are closing down another small business. If they approve it they may look like they are being inconsistent with their recently implemented hard-line non-conforming structure rules. Bahan’s small food truck trailer is on wheels. Not having a demo permit for 185 will also probably play into their decision about the permit.
*** CORRECTION: In our newsletter this morning, we said the Town Council meeting was Tuesday. That’s incorrect, it’s Monday.
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Absolutely NO, She has no intention of cleaning the mess left behind from IAN, this is the reason FMB looks as it does. It’s like the Wild West put up a trailer and continue selling. This needs to stop Immediately. She had her chance!
I’m sure it’ll be a big “no”
How about the town gives her a 3 month extension thru the end of April?. If her situation hasn’t changed then deny any further requests until she dies something with 185.