Cold snap chills business at Gulf Coast waterfront restaurants

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

An unusual cold snap along Florida’s Gulf Coast is keeping customers away from waterfront businesses, forcing some popular spots to scale back hours or shut down altogether.

At Slipaway Food Truck Park and Marina, located at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge, owner Scott Fischer said colder temperatures over the weekend led to noticeably lighter crowds.

“Whenever it’s cold, we’re going to have less traffic,” Fischer said.

The park, known for its waterfront views and boat traffic, is especially vulnerable to chilly, windy conditions. Fischer said cold air blowing off the water can make the temperatures feel even lower, discouraging visitors from lingering.

“There’s nothing like being on the water, but the water’s colder than it is out here,” he said. “When the wind’s blowing, it really throws a lot of cool weather on.”

While Slipaway remained open with heaters and shutters to accommodate customers willing to brave the cold, other waterfront businesses were not as fortunate.

Snug Harbor, a longtime restaurant on Fort Myers Beach, closed for three consecutive days due to the weather. Owner Peter Ennis said the decision was necessary as customer turnout dropped sharply.

“We’ve been closed here at Snug Harbor Saturday, Sunday and now today,” Ennis said.

Ennis plans to reopen once temperatures rise, saying warmer weather typically brings renewed energy and foot traffic.

“People will be around tomorrow, and there’s a little more excitement,” he said.

The sudden chill caught some visitors off guard. Fort Myers resident Paul Myanmar said he was surprised to find Snug Harbor closed.

“You don’t expect this,” Myanmar said. “It’s a little bit of a surprise when we come down.”

Others, especially visitors from colder climates, were less fazed. Bob Pacheco, visiting from Boston, said the weather felt mild by comparison.

“It could be a blizzard,” he said. “The sun’s out. It’s beautiful here. This is like a heat wave for me.”

Business owners remain optimistic that crowds will return once temperatures rebound later this week.

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