Cold snap boosts downtown Fort Myers shops as shoppers seek warmth

DOWNTON FORT MYERS, Fla. - A chilly snap in Fort Myers had visitors swapping sunny beach days for bustling storefronts on Sunday.

Downtown businesses reported a spike in foot traffic as people sought warmth indoors. Despite the cold, locals and visitors were out in force, supporting local businesses.

Jean Barlett, a store associate at the Franklin Shops, shared her observations.

"The crowds have been fantastic, very busy, very, very busy," said Barlett.

The cold weather shifted people's plans, drawing them away from the beach and into the shops.

"They can't go to the beach, you know, so they come to the Franklin shops," said Barlett.

Barlett noted that winter apparel was in high demand.

"Anything that's, warm, the sweaters, the coats, like this one over here they go fast," said Barlett.

Even with the need for extra layers, shoppers indulged in ice cream treats. Customers lined up at Scoops at First, undeterred by the cold.

"It's never too cold for, like, a good treat, like this," said Logan, a customer.

Another ice cream lover, Alex, echoed this sentiment.

"I love ice cream. I don't really care what kind of weather it is," said Alex.

Carter Hartley, an employee at Scoops at First, expressed surprise at the turnout.

"We expected to just be dry, just clean up everything, just deep, clean the place. But surprising now we've been busy, hard at work the whole time," said Hartley.

Downtown Fort Myers remained lively and bustling, with shoppers bundled up and enjoying ice cream cones despite the chilly temperatures.