Nellie’s Boatyard to open in former Joe’s Crab Shack in downtown Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— Local restauranteur Leonard Lemmer announced plans for his fourth restaurant in Southwest Florida with the future opening of Nellie's Boatyard, overlooking the new Legacy Harbour Marina.

The restaurant will replace the former Joe's Crab Shack at 2024 West First Street near downtown Fort Myers and adjacent to Centennial Park.

With a targeted opening date in late 2026 following an extensive interior remodel and landscaping, Nellie's Boatyard is anticipated to become a local favorite as the centerpiece of activity for the much-anticipated Legacy Harbour redevelopment project.

The restaurant features 82 floor-to-ceiling windows, providing mesmerizing and unobstructed waterfront views overlooking the Caloosahatchee River and the sleek new 131-slip marina.

"When the opportunity to revitalize the former Joe's Crab Shack and Chart House with their storied histories, we jumped at the chance to be involved," Lemmer said.

Lemmer is the operator of Cantina Laredo in Fort Myers, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux in Cape Coral and the owner of Nervous Nellie's on Fort Myers Beach. After leasing Nervous Nellies for 12 years, Lemmer purchased the 500-seat restaurant in July 2026.

He is planning to share some of its popular menu selections with guests at Nellie's Boatyard. Complemented by its focus on aged steaks and local seafood selections, Nellie's Boatyard will feature relaxed dining for families with comfortable furnishings for 250 with a 40-seat circular bar.

The new restaurant will employ a staff of more than 100 hospitality professionals. Its operation will reflect success gained after operating the popular Nervous Nellie's for 12 years, also a waterfront location.

For most of the last 96 years a restaurant has been positioned on the exact same site on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. The first began as a barge which floated on the river and was later placed on pilings. Opening in 1930, it was named the Gondola Inn. Guests included the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford families. Throughout its history, the view of the river from the dining room was the restaurant's major asset.

The most recent re-incarnations included the Chart House, which was built in 1984 and was a staple for downtown Fort Myers for more than two decades. Joe's Crab Shack opened in 2003, closing in 2025 after its lease expired.

In the future, the Legacy Harbour's broad master plan includes two 25-story mixed-use riverfront towers encompassing 377 mixed-use residential units plus a multi-level parking garage.

After more than five decades and six restaurants, Lemmer admits his greatest joy comes from continuing to provide economic opportunities for his team members and the community. His three children are totally involved in the company's operation, excelling at multiple management areas.