Reopening of The Whale
Sneak preview held over the weekend ahead of Friday's grand opening
Three years after Hurricane Ian battered one of the oldest commercial buildings on Fort Myers Beach, The Whale is reopening.
The owners of one of most iconic restaurants on the island held a sneak preview of its rebuild over the weekend with private parties to celebrate the transformation of the century-old wood-framed bar and restaurant into a three-floor architectural wonder.
The restaurant is set to have its grand reopening for the public this Friday, for what co-owner Mike Miller hopes will be a destination for Fort Myers Beach.
“This is a destination,” Miller said. “It’s not only your local watering hole.”
The rebirth of this destination almost didn’t happen after Hurricane Ian tore up and twisted The Whale into pieces just months after Miller purchased the property.
After Hurricane Ian hit, Miller considered selling the land rather than rebuild the totaled structure. He said he could have made a decent profit. He said his wife Dawn told him “absolutely not. We are rebuilding.”
With that determination, they embarked on their first rebuild of a restaurant, in fact their first attempt to build anything, Mr. Miller said. “This is the first thing me and my wife have built in our lives,” he said. The Millers, who hold business interests in Ohio and Tennessee, moved to Fort Myers Beach in 2018 after years of enjoying vacations here.
Speaking from the third floor of the Estero Boulevard restaurant and bar, overlooking one of the great views of Fort Myers Beach, Miller said the restaurant will retain its old menu.
An in-house smoker will be cooking the restaurant’s popular wings, brisket and ribs. He said there will also be specials chosen by the restaurant’s chef.
The Whale also features many large-screen televisions with packages for all of the major sporting events, Miller said. On the third floor, is a 100-inch big screen television to entertain guests. “We are getting all of the sports games,” he said.
Miller said each floor will offer dining and drinks for guests at the same price. “Everything we designed is for the community,” he said.
The Millers credited a large team of individuals into turning The Whale into one of the island’s most-eye catching structures.
Fowler Construction oversaw much of the work, which was designed and engineered by Moore and Spence Architects. Karen Benson, of Benson and Associates Interior Design, along with her team of Shana Williamson-Scanlon and Stephanie Wolters, helped put together the interiors of the three-floor restaurant. The Millers also credited John Lynch of ViMu, for his work.
Impressive murals from Ashley Randolph of the Art Box Collective adorn the floors and the walls from along the stairs and into the bathrooms. The Millers credited Randolph with numerous ideas for the look of the inside.
Looking over Estero Boulevard across the street to where another beach icon, Shucker’s at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar, stood before being leveled by Hurricane Ian, Miller said he is looking forward to its rebuild. “The more options people have, the more people will come to the island,” he said. “It’s all about the community. It’s not just about us.”
Over the summer, the Millers put together a mullet-throwing contest to engage the community and bring in more off-season tourism as part of an effort through the new business group What’s Up FMB?
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak called The Whale “amazing.” She credited the “perseverance” of the Millers in rebuilding the restaurant. Liszak called the reopening of The Whale “a glorious evening.”
Liszak called the rebuild of The Whale “one more win” for Fort Myers Beach.
The Whale is the fourth restaurant to reopen on Fort Myers Beach in just the last couple weeks, following openings of Bonita Fish Company, Marina Marina Waterfront at Salty Sam’s Marina, and On the Bay (formerly Matanzas on the Bay).
“We encourage everyone to come down here, invest and rebuild,” Miller said.
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com