Reporter: Bianca Smith
•8/6/2026
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — For anyone who has ever wished they could curl up with a good book and a great cup of coffee in the same place, that dream is now a reality in Lee County.
The Book Cafe has officially opened on Alico Road, creating a cozy space where coffee lovers, bookworms and anyone looking for a quiet escape can slow down and stay awhile.
Owned by Lee and Albert Lozano, the café combines the warmth of a neighborhood coffee shop with the charm of an independent bookstore. Guests can browse shelves filled with books before settling into a comfortable chair with a handcrafted drink, making it easy to spend an afternoon reading, studying or catching up with friends.
The idea for the business came from the couple's own travels.
"When my husband and I travel, our first and last stop is always a coffee shop," Lee Lozano said. "I wanted to bring a cozy, welcoming third space to Southwest Florida."
The menu features specialty coffee, espresso drinks, energy beverages and tea. Visitors can also enjoy Mexican pastries from Aromas Ice Cream and Bakery in Lehigh Acres, whether they're stopping in for a quick caffeine boost or planning to spend a few hours with a new book.
The bookstore is constantly growing, with shelves filled with a variety of genres. Many of the books have been donated by the community, and the owners continue to welcome additional donations.
"We're always accepting donated books as well," Lee said.
Another thing that sets The Book Cafe apart is its coffee. The café roasts its own Peruvian coffee beans in-house, and customers can even purchase bags of the freshly roasted beans to enjoy at home.
Beyond coffee and books, the owners hope the café becomes a place where the community can connect.
"We have a lot of book clubs come in here and local authors in the area," Lee said.
The Book Cafe is located at 16900 Alico Mission Way, Suite 104, in Fort Myers.
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