Duffy’s Sports Grill to open Cape location today
Thirty restaurants in 30 years; not a bad way to do business.
Duffy’s Sports Grill, one of Florida’s largest chains of sports-themed restaurant, will celebrate 30 years of business with the grand opening of its 30th location today at 627 Cape Coral Pkwy. W., the company’s second in Southwest Florida in less than a year.
Duffy’s had been exclusively on the southeast coast before coming to Florida’s west coast in February near Miromar Outlets in Estero.
Jason Emmett, president of Duffy’s, said the company started targeting the west coast and Orlando last year and discovered only a few communities made sense for them to expand.
Cape Coral was one of them. And with a ready-made facility in place, the decision became an easy one.
“Cape Coral is a family friendly community with a focus that fits our own, it’s a growing market, so we wanted to be enmeshed in the communities we open in. That separates us from the large chains,” Emmert said. “We want to be involved in the community. We want to sponsor Little League teams, whatever the community needs,”
The location was formerly Fletcher’s, a dance club that closed in June when Duffy’s, which always buys established properties instead of building its own, bought the property.
“It has all the elements. We’re always looking for things that make the ideal Duffy’s,” Emmert said. “It provides us the flexibility to be all things to as many people as we can. We try to appeal to all ends of the market, from young families to old folks to young people.”
As many as 700 guests are expected to be accommodated, featuring wall-to-wall sports memorabilia and more than 100 TVs with extensive sports programming.
The 100,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a vast cocktail area, which flows into an expansive outdoor dining area complete with a fully stocked bar. There is also a spacious lounge with a stage and live entertainment.
Among the specials Duffy’s offers is 2-for-1 drinks all day, including top-shelf drinks, and meal deals such as Kids Day on Wednesday, when they eat free, and Thursday night Rib Fix, with a half-rack of baby back ribs for $9.95.
There is the traditional sports bar fare, such as burgers and wings tossed in 10 different sauces. Cape Coral is also one of only two locations to feature the seafood bar menu, an array of seafood items such as Alaskan snow crab legs, live Maine lobster and oysters on the half shell.
Emmett wanted to make it clear that Duffy’s doesn’t want to be known as a sports bar, but a restaurant that features sports.
“We place a high priority on quality and service. Sports bar has the connotation as being low-tech, lousy experience,” Emmett said. “Everything is fresh and made from scratch. We place a high priority on hospitality. The food is of fine-dining quality in a casual environment.”
Locals are urged to join Duffy’s free MVP loyalty program to earn rewards, offers and exclusive benefits.
Duffy’s Sports Grill is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
To view the menu prior to Duffy’s opening, download the mobile app available on both Apple and Android devices or visit them online at, www.DuffysMVP.com.