Local Southern Charm Bistro brings black history, music and cuisine to Fort Myers.

FORT MYERS, Florida. Here on Fox 4 is a story that highlights the people in our community who use their passions to influence the region. People love Lauren Daniels and her husband. In 2022, the couple opened Southern Charm Bistro in Fort Myers. They have several hobbies, including her family and business, and Lauren uses them all to bring people together.

Iconic musical legends hang on the walls of Southern Charm Bistro. “I post people on the wall that people ask questions about so people can connect,” says Daniels. It’s a place where people can come together to reminisce, learn and socialize, but most importantly… eat!

The Daniels family has loved Southern cuisine for generations. I cooked with my mother and grandmother, listened to artists of the past. She passed this tradition on to her children. After working for 11 years as an orphanage for her 4 children, she thought, “You know what? I think I can do it. [cook] professionally.”

What started as a small takeaway menu really took off, landing here in 2023, where black history and jazz meet Southern charm. The food and setting quickly turned her bistro into more than just a place to grab a bite to eat. “People from the community meet here! So they have somewhere to come and feel comfortable.” Comfortable in a space dedicated to the history of black music.

The power of community and a way of cooking that brings people together, all under one roof… you can find it at Southern Charm Bistro.