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Mango-Rita’s: New owners, new outlook

By Staff | Aug 7, 2019

The new owners of Mango-Rita's JJ and Jason Ingream. JORDAN HESTER

The new owners of Mango-Rita’s have a bold outlook for how they want to grow the business and bring in new blood to the Beach.

Incoming owners JJ and Jason Ingream, formerly of Maryland, bring both experience and excitement to their new challenge.

“The Beach is a totally different animal than I’m used to, I’ve run bars for 17 years and it was nothing like how it is down here. Everything is unique to Fort Myers Beach,” JJ Ingream said.

From zoning plans to the community at large to restaurant regulations, everything is new and breathtaking.

“I was a little concerned about the little spots of vagrants here and there at first, but the council says they’re doing their best and we have to take them at their word. The outside seating regulations are also very different than they were back home, but nothing we can’t handle,” JJ Ingream said.

Mango-Rita's is at 1021 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. JORDAN HESTER

With some Chesapeake Bay flavored crab bakes and dip, along with some things they’ve blended with popular beach fare like the ever-popular beach bread and pink shrimp entrees, they’re testing the menu out in portions to see what locals love and what they don’t.

“We want the food to be just as important as the beach, even bringing in our own Chesapeake flavors, we went around and checked out restaurants down here and spent some time imagining our menu, both for food and drinks,” Jason Ingream said.

Future plan for Mango-Rita’s are ambitious: They’re expecting to open up the second floor after renovations to double the floor space, but to also offer the Beach’s most valuable commodity.

“We’ve got a perfect view of the pier and the beach from up there and we are ecstatic to get it opened in the future,” Jason Ingream said.

As many know, second floor seating of often reserved for the resorts and a few choice places down by Times Square, and Mango-Rita’s is planning to be the next in line for this exceptional opportunity.

“We have a smaller third floor as well, which we’re not sure what’s going to happen with, it could turn into a VIP section or a private room, we don’t really have it on the forefront, we just want to get our new menu perfected, get our name out there, and show people why we’re going to be the best,” JJ Ingream said.

The Ingreams are dedicated to putting out a product they’re proud of.

“Jason asked me if I really wanted to do this after 17 years of bar running in Maryland and I couldn’t be stopped, this place is a paradise to us and we’re excited to be part of this community,” JJ Ingreams said.

Mango-Rita’s is at 1021 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.