FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Despite seeing storm surge from Hurricane Ian that would be double the height of most people, one beach restaurant and bar is nearly ready to reopen after the storm.
Wahoo Willies on Old San Carlos Boulevard is approximately 6-8 weeks away from welcoming customers to their restaurant. It will be the first time since Hurricane Ian decimated the island, and the first time ever for the brand-new business.
“It had not officially opened,” said Co-Partner of the Wahoo Willies, Peter Ennis. “We were days away from opening.”
Just days before their planned opening, Ian came through and destroyed the business they just built.
“To see the devastation on the beach, we’re pretty grateful to have a building standing,” Ennis said.
Wahoo Willies isn’t just standing, it’s practically perfect. The tiki hut thatch roof wasn’t even tattered by Ian’s winds.
“The water was just above where that lamp is right there,” Ennis said.
For the things inside the restaurant, however, that’s a different story.
“Tables were gone. This was all mangled,” he said. “The debris was almost bar height.”
All of the equipment was brand new, barely even used. Ennis said they only hosted a few family and friends events, never serving the general public.
“We ran our equipment probably six or eight hours,” he said. “And then Ian came.”
While Ian was a monumental setback, they’re not just weeks away from opening, this time for real.
“I think about 6-8 weeks we’ll be able to make that decision,” said Ennis.
“That’s amazing,” said John and Patty Schipani. “That would be great if they can open for the holidays. We’ll give them the business that they need, that’s for sure.”
However, for Ennis and his team, it’s not just swinging open the doors and flooding Fort Myers Beach with people. They want to make sure the community can handle the customers and are ready for them to reopen.
“We want to do it when the time is right,” Ennis said. “When there’s some normalcy and people can come back on the island and feel like we’ve made headway, I think that will be the right time.”
That time will eventually come, just like it took time to get the water turned back on at Wahoo Willies and just like it will take time before power can be hooked up.
It won’t be today or tomorrow, but burgers and beers will be back; all in good time.
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