After seven years, Downtown Fort Myers says goodbye to Seed & Bean

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — The familiar hiss of steaming milk, the clink of cups being set on tables, and the conversations shared over morning coffee have been part of daily life at Seed & Bean for years.

But after seven years in downtown Fort Myers, those sounds will soon fade away.

Seed & Bean, known as Florida's first cannabis café, will close its downtown location on May 31 as its parent company, Caloosahatchee Cannabis Co., shifts its focus to operations in Cape Coral and Venice.

For many customers, the news came as a surprise.

"It's really sad to see them go," said Michael Kincaid, a longtime customer.

For Annabell Potter, Seed & Bean became more than just a place to grab coffee. It became part of a routine she shared with her daughter.

"We come every morning, pretty much," Potter said.

For the last few years, the pair would meet at the café, bring the dog along, sit outside, and spend time together before the day began.

"We meet and have coffee together, and she brings her dog, so we sit here for a little while and just have our mother-daughter time," Potter said.

Those are the kinds of moments customers say made Seed & Bean special.

When the café first opened, the concept was unlike anything else in Florida. Co-founder Cole Peacock said the business entered uncharted territory as it worked alongside local and state officials to create a model that had never existed before.

"This is the first location and the first cannabis café that's ever been approved in the U.S.," Peacock said.

Over the years, the business gained national attention for combining coffee, food, wellness products and hemp-derived beverages under one roof. It also survived challenges that threatened many small businesses.

"We've been through the battles of being one of the first in the cannabis industry, COVID, Ian, everything in between," Peacock said.

Despite that resilience, company leaders say the economics of operating downtown became increasingly difficult.

In a statement announcing the closure, the company cited rising food costs, operational demands and changing foot traffic patterns as factors behind the decision.

"There had been a leveling off in the economy in the downtown," Peacock said. "You've got to make decisions inside a partnership that's the best decision for the business."

For some customers, the announcement felt personal.

"It's kind of like a blindsided breakup, you know, like you didn't ask for," Potter said.

While the downtown chapter is ending, Peacock says the company is focused on what's next.

"What's next is Cape Coral," he said.

The company's Cape Coral location opened in December and features a full liquor license alongside the hemp-based products that made Seed & Bean known throughout Southwest Florida. The company is also expanding its beverage business, including hemp-derived beers and THC-infused seltzers.

Customers say they're glad the brand isn't disappearing entirely.

"I am glad they're still open in Cape Coral," Kincaid said.

Still, for many in downtown Fort Myers, the closure marks the end of a business that helped shape the area during a period of growth and change.

As employees continue serving drinks and regulars stop in for one last visit, Peacock says he's focused on gratitude.

"Thank you to all the patrons and the City of Fort Myers for wrapping their arms around us, embracing us, and helping us be successful for so many years," he said.

And for customers like Kincaid, it's hard not to feel nostalgic about a place that became part of everyday life.

"Seed and Bean, we'll miss you."