The center of Fort Myers Beach’s Times Square, long cherished for its beach-town charm, bustling restaurants, and local shops, could soon be home to a new boutique hotel — a proposal that’s sparking both support and concern among town residents and business owners.
Plans from Persaud Properties, which owns over 20,000 square feet of beachfront land, include building a 50-room hotel with retail shops, a pedestrian walkway, and a rooftop sunset terrace bar. The proposed development would take the place of the former Sunset Grill, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
While some see the project as a promising step in the town’s recovery, others fear it could change the character of the iconic area. Since Hurricane Ian devastated Fort Myers Beach, the community has made major strides in rebuilding. With tourists returning and businesses regaining momentum, many feel Times Square is finally beginning to bounce back. Still, the future remains uncertain as developers roll out ambitious plans to reshape the space.
Bill Veach, a former town council member and a member of Protect FMB, voiced concerns about losing what made Times Square special.
“That is the center of the town, and people love to walk around to enjoy the restaurants and shops down there. That was the magic of Times Square,” he said.
Business owners like Fred Mallone, who runs the Buffalo Grill, argue that redevelopment is not only necessary, but long overdue.
“The old Times Square is gone. You have to redevelop,” Mallone said. “None of these owners asked for Ian. None of them asked to be dumping millions of dollars into these properties. It’s just Mother Nature.”
Mallone said that he saw visitors over spring break, disappointed by the lack of activity, with much of the area still operating from temporary trailers.
“We need buildings down here. We need development. We need hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, entertainment, retail — all of it. Right now, there just isn’t enough," Mallone said.
However, others working in the area say that the last thing Times Square needs is a hotel. Sharon Vanlandingham, who works at the Beach Hut at Key West, believes developments like the proposed hotel and the nearby Margaritaville resort are already shifting the area’s atmosphere in the wrong direction.
“We already have Margaritaville. People are starting to complain about it — it’s $60 to go to the pool. People don’t like that. They have the beach, and they don’t want to spend more money,” she said. “We want to keep the historical vibe. We like it the way that it was and that it is right now. We don’t want to have it be like a hotel and everything, because it’s going to ruin the way that it is.”
As discussions continue, the developer is hosting an event Thursday night at Buffalo Grill from 5 to 7 p.m., inviting the public to view the latest renderings of the project and ask questions.
Residents will have the opportunity to formally voice their opinions and see the plans during a Local Planning Agency meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, at 9 a.m.
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