Pine Island was in the national spotlight when “My Lottery Dream Home's” season-finale premiered Friday, July 19, on HGTV.
The episode, “Pine Island Prince and Princess,” featured a $4 million scratch-off lottery-winning couple looking for a vacation and eventual retirement home from St. James City to Bokeelia.
“They had some great shots featuring the island,” said Rob Wells III, managing partner of Tarpon Lodge. “It was fun to watch.”
His Pineland restaurant is one of two waterfront gems highlighted in season 16, episode 12 of the David Bromstad-hosted show.
“Look at this beautiful view,” said Bromstad as he presumably drove to meet winners Chris and Kenny. “It’s tropical, it’s mysterious. I feel like I’m in an episode of ‘The Brady Bunch’ in Hawaii. Like this is so good.”
First stop — The Waterfront Restaurant & Marina
The show, filmed here in late May, begins with the western Massachusetts couple meeting Bromstad in front of the historic St. James City eatery.
“You guys need some caffeine?” Bromstad asks as he ushers them inside. “I do.”
Had they filmed the episode three months earlier, The Waterfront wouldn’t have been an option. Battered by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022, it reopened 17 months later on March 9.
“When the storm came, it ripped everything out,” Declan Kiely, co-owner with his wife Nicki Fleming, said after the storm. “There was water coming in from above and below.”
Fast forward and Bromstad and guests sit with coffee mugs in the completely redone, bright, light and airy dining room awash in turquoise and yellow.
“We only buy (lottery tickets) once a year for Christmas,” Chris said. Her ticket was the $4 million winner.
Armed with a $400,000 budget and a list of homes from local real estate agent Nick Sassi, Bromstad takes the couple to look at a home in St. James City, where the seafood-heavy Waterfront overlooks Monroe Canal on the island’s southern end.
“(Pine Island) is the largest island on the west coast,” Sassi said. “Seventeen miles long, two miles wide, small-town feel.”
“Did you sneak a few in there for me?” Bromstad asks as he looks through the list of properties.
Second stop — Tarpon Lodge Restaurant
After two more stops at houses in Bokeelia on the northern end of Pine Island, the episode concludes with the trio meeting up at Tarpon Lodge in Pineland.
“They were here May 23rd,” Food and Beverage Manager David Moore said the day after the episode aired. “They filmed in about an hour.”
“They were here about 4, between lunch and dinner,” Wells added. “They shot in the dining room and then moved to the breezeway where I think they had appetizers.”
With its old Florida charm, fresh seafood and creative, locally focused menu, Tarpon Lodge was named one of Florida’s best waterfront restaurants by USA Today writers last year. It’s upscale elegance with all the welcoming charm you could ask for.
In between — Blondies Coffee Co.
Although it didn’t appear in the episode, Bromstad made an off-camera stop at this 15-month-old coffee trailer in St. James City.
“I recognized David when he walked up,” said owner Rachel Branch, whose business is named after her blonde daughters. “We live across from The Waterfront and knew something was going on.”
He came by “Tuesday, May 21, around 11 a.m.”
“I know (because) I texted my husband,” said Branch, who serves hot, cold and specialty coffee drinks across from Marker 3 Cantina (the former Ragged Ass Saloon site) from 7-11 a.m. Monday to Saturday during the summer.
“We have a lot of locals ride their bikes and golf carts here,” she said. “During season, it was much busier, but everything is still going great.”
Branch, who gets her coffee from The Roasted Record in Stuart, said she talked a little bit about HGTV with Bromstad.
“He was super friendly,” she said. “Very outgoing. He really seemed to enjoy his coffee.”
Branch couldn’t quite recall what he ordered.
“I believe it was a cold brew or iced Americano,” she said. “It was something I don’t normally do. It was very specific. I think he must usually order it.”
Almost there — Pine Island Getaway Café
Adam Brunet, who co-owns this hidden gem in St. James City’s industrial park, said his French bakery was considered for the episode too.
HGTV had contacted him and paperwork was sent.
“The timing just didn’t work out for us,” he said. “It’s too bad.”
It really is.
Pine Island Getaway Café is one of my favorite bakeries in Southwest Florida with its dreamy cheesecakes, blueberry and cream cheese-filled brioche, fresh tarts, coffee eclairs, macarons, overflowing chicken and tuna croissants, French onion soup — I could go on and on.
“Maybe next time it will work out,” Brunet said.
David might just love it as much as I do.
The final decision
Ultimately, Kenny said the couple was “more attracted to St. James City” and went with the mostly renovated $349,000 Royal Fern property.
“A great second home for you guys,” Bromstad said. “Cheers to you guys. This has been amazing.”
Nine weeks later, the new Pine Islanders “couldn’t be happier.”
“We feel so welcomed,” Kenny said. “We couldn’t have asked, we couldn’t have picked better neighbors.”
And they’re close to some pretty spectacular restaurants too.
In the news:Fort Myers sushi restaurant named one of the best in country according to Yelp
If you missed the debut of “Pine Island Prince and Princess,” HGTV will rebroadcast the episode on the following dates and times: 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 22; 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9; 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.
If you go
Other Cape Coral, Fort Myers restaurants have been featured
This is the sixth time in the last few years Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples have been in the “My Lottery Dream Home” spotlight.
- In June, Nosh on Naples Bay was featured in "The Gold Lady of Naples," the eighth episode of season 16.
- Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood and Jungle Bird Tiki in Cape Coral were the locations for the August 2023 debut of season 14's "The Wizard of Cape Coral" episode.
- In 2021’s “Seven Million Big Ones,” the Luminary and Oxbow in downtown Fort Myers played roles.
- Also that season, Cape Coral’s Keg & Cow and Cork Soakers, along with owner Bob Mulroy, pop up in “From Portland to Paradise.”
- Cork Soakers and Fathoms in Cape Harbour were featured in the 2019 “Winning Big in Florida” episode.
Go to watch.hgtv.com/show/my-lottery-dream-home-hgtv
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
Most Popular
Comments / 0