Super stacks, full stacks, short stacks and baby cakes are back on Fort Myers Beach .
The Island’s Pancake House — a mid-island staple in Sea Grape Plaza since 1977 — reopened Labor Day weekend, nearly two years after Hurricane Ian ripped through Southwest Florida.
“There was nothing left after the hurricane,” Brian Martins said of the restaurant he co-owns with his wife Stacey. “Everything was gone.”
Which means everything inside now is new.
“It’s fun to watch the locals come in for the first time since Ian,” Brian said. “I love to see their reactions. They’re like, ‘holy cow, wow.’”
New interior, same vibe
They’re finding baby blue diner-style padded booths and chairs, a new breakfast bar and brand new tables and flooring. A wall in the large dining room was blown out by Ian, adding 500 more square feet.
The beach-themed murals on the freshly painted walls have a familiar feel.
The Martins moved to this area from Minnesota to buy a restaurant and ultimately bought The Island’s Pancake House on June 24, after falling in love with the 1970s Florida feel of it.
“We shut down a week before Ian and did a bunch of renovations,” Brian said. “Then we reopened the Sunday before Ian.”
They were left with a blank slate after the storm.
“When we decided to rebuild, it was important to keep the 70s vibe,” Brian said.
“Cyndo Miller painted the murals here 10 years ago,” Stacey added. “We wanted to keep the same look so we found her. She lost everything too and wasn’t painting anymore. When we approached her and said it’s what we fell in love with, she agreed to do it. She said it’s been very therapeutic.”
Breakfast and lunch are served
Returning customers will also recognize the menu.
“We took a couple things off and added a few when we took over,” Stacey said. “But it’s mostly the same.”
"Everything is made to order,” Brian said. “We have no warmers. For every egg dish, we crack the eggs when you order it. Nothing is premade.”
Breakfast classics include those egg dishes, chicken & waffles, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits & sausage gravy, corned beef hash & eggs and more.
Pancakes — from plain to fruit-filled — are popular as are waffles and omelets.
“Breakfast is huge here,” Stacey said. “We’re trying to get the word out about lunches too.”
That’s when the Island Club (an overflowing turkey, ham and bacon sandwich with American and Swiss cheeses, lettuce, tomato and mayo), wraps and burgers are best-sellers. Soups, salads, specials and kids meals are also available.
Welcome back
The restaurant is the first business to reopen in Sea Grape Plaza. As of now, no other units are occupied.
“Hopefully businesses will come,” Brian said. “It’s a great location.”
Opening weekend was a big hit with island residents.
“It was crazy busy, but wonderful,” Stacey said. “All we want to do is support this community.”
“We pushed hard to get open for Labor Day weekend,” Brian added. “Thanks to the city officials, fire marshal. If it wasn’t for those guys, we wouldn’t have gotten open this fast. It’s been 18 months since we’ve been open.”
Donna Klinzing, a Fort Myers Beach resident for 18 years and a server at The Island’s Pancake House for four years before Ian, was back to work opening weekend.
Dining deals: 116 restaurant deals: Sizzle Dining brings mouthwatering offers from Naples to Cape Coral
“I recognized about 90 percent of the customers,” she said. “It’s mostly locals now. And they’re so excited to be back here.”
And so are we.
The Island’s Pancake House, 2801 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, (239) 373-4053, follow on Facebook
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com . Support local journalism by subscribing to The News-Press .
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Longtime Fort Myers Beach breakfast, lunch spot reopens for first time since Hurricane Ian
Most Popular
Comments / 0