Saving the cinnamon rolls
No matter how old they are, kids are protective of their moms.
Even if Mom is actually an unrelated owner of a cherished breakfast spot.
More than 10 supporters of Mom’s Fresh Produce and Baked Goods, located on Estero Boulevard, attended the Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting Monday, Feb. 6 to speak up on behalf of Mom (as they all called owner Heather Reagan) and her restaurant.
Even if some of them admittedly weren’t sure why they needed to, they wanted to make sure the town council knew: Mom’s was important to them.
Reagan has been a local restaurateur for years, first owning the Heavenly Biscuit before moving locations and ownership to her current venture, Mom’s, in January 2015. In May 2016, she applied to the town for a rezoning of her property from commercial boulevard to commercial planned development, because currently a restaurant is not an allowed use under the propertys zoning.
It was only the first hearing of the request, so the council did not take action. However, Mom’s fans spoke up during public comment as well as via email to the council members.
One such supporter was Robert “Pete” Havens, a Madison, Wis., resident who said Mom’s cinnamon rolls were known throughout his northern home because he and his wife Judy always take some back.
“I’m a tourist, on my 15th year of spending a month here,” he said. “I would just like to say we enjoy that place, we think it’s wonderful. You cannot beat those cinnamon rolls.”
But it’s more than just delicious foods – the restaurant has fostered a sense of community connectivity among its customers, both locals and tourists alike.
Havens mentioned the kid’s wall, where parents and grandparents can chart their childrens’ growth over the years.
“My grandkids are on there,” he said. “Mom’s is worth keeping where it is.”
Carolyn Hart, a beach resident, said the banter between customers created a culture of welcome at Mom’s between the tourists and the “regulars” and owners.
“You have the amazing power of being just your own city,” she said. “You’re making sure we don’t lose that individualism.”
Carol Murphy, also a beach resident living about two blocks from the restaurant, spoke up in support of the rezoning. As a resident nearby, she said she didn’t find the restaurant problematic and that it had enough parking to support the business.
“We would like to see a local business supported and kept on the beach,” she said.
Many more wearing red Mom’s t-shirts spoke up in favor, and the Local Planning Agency recommended approval as well.
The town received one dissenting opinion about the rezoning from beach resident Dave Tezak. As a resident of the Seagrape subdivision, in “close proximity” to Mom’s, Tezak said via email to the council said the neighborhood had been dealing with “many problems” from the restaurant because of illegal parking.
Mom’s is sided by a vacant lot that used to be a seasonal parking lot and shares its space with a real estate company.
Tezak also said in his email he felt the town had been “deceived” when the location opened initially as a retail food shop and then turning into a restaurant.
“It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission,” his email stated. “This issue would never have come up in the first place had Heather Reagan not violated the zoning ordinance from the beginning.”
Tezak signed his email as representing the residents of the Seagrape subdivision, but no other names were listed.
The rezoning request will go to public hearing at the next council meeting, at which the board will vote to approve or deny the request.