Fort Myers Beach plaza revives post-Ian with new restaurants

FORT MYERS BEACH - Santini Plaza, once a bustling hub on the south end of Fort Myers Beach, is showing signs of life again after Hurricane Ian left it nearly deserted.

New restaurants are opening, and locals are returning, marking a significant step forward for the community.

Residents and business owners are thrilled to see the plaza coming back to life. John Maffei, owner of Legno Italian Kitchen, said, "We opened the doors and the whole community supported us right away. The community is amazing here."

For many locals, the reopening of businesses means more than just convenience. Joe Mceneaney and Paul Budil, residents of Fort Myers Beach, said, "It was a beach family. We know all the business owners and everything. And it was our little play, our little downtown on the south end, absolutely."

Before the revival, residents had to travel miles just to find a place to eat or shop. Now, with businesses reopening, the area is becoming more accessible. Jojo McCloskey, a snowbird, shared, "Now, I just take my bike here and we come down here so it's coming back, and that's what we like."

Business owners are optimistic about the future. Jeff Nesbit, owner of Nesbit Real Estate Inc., said, "It's so much nicer to have people here than being a ghost town the way it's been lately. So this year is a big improvement over the past year."

Town leaders are also encouraged by the progress. Abigail Eberhart, public information officer for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, said, "The island is doing well. And so just this here in Santini is showing us that the island is really healthy."

With more businesses, including a new hotel, expected to open nearby, residents and business owners are excited to see life returning to the south end of the island.