Fort Myers Beach businesses assess Margaritaville’s impact after hitting milestone

FORT MYERS BEACH, Florida. On Friday, the Margaritaville Resort in Fort Myers Beach was one step closer to reopening.

The resort celebrated the opening ceremony, a celebration to mark the completion of the finishing touches on the top floor of the hotel.

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said the resort’s latest milestone is an achievement for the entire island community.

“This is a demonstration of our island’s resilience, continued recovery,” Allers said.

That resilience was boosted on Friday by the number of jobs the nationwide resort will bring, Allers said.

“More than 200 jobs are returning to our island alone,” Allers said.

Hundreds of jobs are coming to the small beach community, which is feeling uncomfortable due to the relocation of large companies such as Margaritaville.

“There’s a rumor going around the area: ‘Is this going to be the next Miami Beach?'” local resident Bart Churchward said.

David Cesario, general manager of the Margaritaville Resort in Fort Myers Beach, said it was an expected feeling.

“I have worked all over the country and when new projects are introduced anywhere, people talk about their impact,” Cesario said.

The impact will strengthen the surrounding beach community, Mayor Allers said.

“Every day, every week we get better, we get stronger, businesses reopen,” Allers said.

On Friday, businesses such as Rude Shrimp Co. TJ Holzapfel, which was destroyed during Hurricane Ian, is working again.

“We are open for business and sell shrimp,” Holzapfel said.

Holzapfel told Fox 4 that he is excited about the development of Margaritaville.

“We will send people to you, they will not constantly eat Margaritaville,” Holzapfel said.

On Friday, Cesario said it is up to beach leaders to enable other businesses to reach customers.

“They have to maintain this balance of density, traffic. I think they are doing their job well,” Cesario said.

As construction progresses in Margaritaville, so does the idea of ​​keeping Fort Myers Beach strong, Holzapfel said.

“It’s no longer hope, it’s now determination and people are starting to breathe again,” Holzapfel said.