The earth is about to move and shake on the island’s bustling north end before the Margaritaville crosswalk as an iconic landmark embarks on an ambitious rebuild some 20 months after Ian destroyed what was there. The owners of The Whale invite the public to a ceremonial groundbreaking May 17 at 1 p.m.
Older locals still call it “The Beached Whale” and it sits primed and ready to be the first bar/restaurant to build from the ground up since Cat-4 Hurricane Ian decimated this island paradise.
With permits approved and shovels in-hand, owners and management plan a three-day celebration featuring food trucks, live music and giveaways over the May 17th weekend. A VIP section under their tent will be available, to invited guests only, beginning that day at noon. Renderings and blueprints plus an animated video of the planned three-story structure were unveiled in early December last year. An open Tiki Bar concept on the third level should provide patrons views of the Gulf of Mexico. There will be music stages at both bars on the top two levels.
Mike and Dawn Miller, native Ohioans and now southenders, bought The Whale in June 2022, just months before Ian. Here you can see Dawn’s walkaround of the property October 8, just 10 days after their business was wrecked.
In the above photo, taken just days post-Ian from above the canal behind The Surf Club, the total devastation to Sea Gypsy Inn and The Whale looking south towards the Lani Kai is difficult to look at. The content creators who shared this perspective from their blog, were here a few days later helping his father clear muck and debris from the family home nearby.
Dawn fell in love with the island in the 70’s when her parents owned a condo at Island Winds Condominiums on FMB’s south end, 6610 Estero Boulevard. She and husband Mike purchased property nearby on the bayfront in 2018 and became full-time islanders “the summer of COVID” in 2020, she explained. She had no recollections of The Beached Whale from her time here previously as her focus was the beach and the south end. “The Holiday Inn was our spot,” she said referring to the Wyndham Gardens Hotel by the name locals remember it originally. That’s where the Millers would vacation with their daughters.
“I don’t think The Whale marked in my brain,” she recalls of her earlier years on the island. “I have no memories of it, though I’m sure we went there.”
Their interstate business interests prior to Whale ownership were primarily in metal parts. She told us that they had never even dabbled in the hospitality industry before their 2022 purchase of the iconic FMB restaurant. It had been remodeled, with the addition of the front porch, and renamed The Whale by previous owners. And when the Millers took ownership, it was no longer a home to live local music.
The FMB Islander remembers when it was The Beached Whale and locals knew it was the place to go for the best live music—10,000 Views, Soapy Tuna and SuperBot were three favorites. Locals Timmy and Drea Johnston would be plying their craft, him on guitar and vocals with Stet Howland (drums) and Johnny Hyatt (lead guitar) as 10,000 Views, his wife behind the bar. Our editor and his girlfriend would sit at the upstairs bar, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico and The Mermaid, enjoying the island’s best beach bread. That was a decade before the current owners and partner/manager Greg von Krumreig were there.
The Whale at 1249 Estero Boulevard is still hosting great local acts, like Sideshow Bob (Tabarrini) and an acoustic version of his band Red Hannah. Tabarrini books music for them and has been a big supporter of their rebuild, appearing before town council at several hearings.
After collapsing under a constant barrage of more than 15 feet of storm surge plus rogue waves pushed ashore by Hurricane Ian, the Millers were determined to bring their restaurant back to life. Dawn had the vision to erect a tent and bring in temporary facilities. Then the couple retrieved new tables and chairs purchased just before Ian and stored up in Ohio. Since April 2023, they’ve been operating from below the white tent, serving drinks, hosting local food vendors as well as local artists, like Magic Mike [Yost] for trivia on Wednesday’s and island crooner Steve Farst. Late last September, they resurrected The Mermaid tradition of Sunday “Church” featuring one-dollar Bloody Mary’s and other inexpensive drink specials.
The Mermaid sold and was razed to become the Margaritaville pool across the street from The Whale’s white tent. Surf Club was gutted by Ian and still sits on the edge of the sidewalk a blue shell, still in the shape of a Waffle House, which it was originally back when Mermaid was Surf Club (both owned by siblings). The Cottage, one of our oldest and most beloved businesses, sitting in the shadow of the Lani Kai, was no more than some broken pilings as of September 28, 2022. These island hangouts closed permanently before or during Ian, left The Whale as the lone icon on the north end of our beach, no disrespect to downtown establishments known for live local music or as a locals bar, like the Tiki Bar at Lighthouse.
TRANSITIONING TO A SECOND LOCATION
Meanwhile, down at 2301 Estero Boulevard in the old Tuckaway Cafe/Royal Scoop Building, work is progressing on Sandy Bottoms Bar & Grill. Set to open May 23rd, a week after the groundbreaking up the street, Dawn and Mike appear before the LPA and Town Council May 14th for final approvals, including for a new Tiki Bar out front, dumpster placement, parking and landscaping. They have their work cut out for them, managing both a total ground-up rebuild and a remodel all while running a business, which once The Whale reopens, will be their twin to Sandy Bottom’s, represented by a pink, hula skirt-clad cartoon manatee.
“The kitchen build-out should start in July and take a couple of months,” Dawn told us Monday. Until then, operations at Sandy Bottoms through the summer and early fall will look a lot like The Whale with their bar and seating underneath an open tent and a rotation of food trucks, “probably through November,” she added. Their kitchen, to be opened at that time, will feature Whale favorites like beach bread, Ahi tuna nachos and bean dip. And, of course, there will be live entertainment just as they’ve done since reopening under a tent in April 2023.
“We’re going to keep the memory of The Whale going for as long as we can, until we open,” Miller said.
Tabarrini looks forward to the day the new Whale and Sandy Bottoms exist as sister restaurants offering great, local music, in addition to food and beverage options. He told us, “those two businesses [will be] the top two live music destinations on Fort Myers Beach.”
Dawn loves the marketing side of the business, creating all the flyers and colorful content for social media and their website. The cartoon characters, like Sand Bottom, the manatee, and her predecessor, Blue the whale were a collaborative effort. “I have an artist who draws all of my characters…he and I just jived.” Miller is speaking of Dave Drotleff, who was working on Sanibel Island when the two met. Buzz the bird is the second character the pair created, just to give the establishment a new identity. “They all have their own personality. After we bought The Whale…we needed to rebrand it and make it our own. He came up with all of them,” she said of Drotleff creating the cartoon mascots. “All I gave him was that we needed a whale…then as I came up with my different shirt ideas, he added characters.”
MAY 17-19 EVENT
As for the VIP event before the ceremonial groundbreaking at The Whale, Miller excitedly told us, “We want everyone there!” Dignitaries she’s invited include Florida Governor and First Lady Ron and Casey DeSantis. He has declined, but the First Lady has not yet responded, she added, hopeful. U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds’ and U.S. Senator Rick Scott’s offices were also alerted to the groundbreaking VIP event. Sen. Scott’s office provided a letter of support in lieu of his attendance.
After the 1 p.m. ceremony, the party continues with live music, a dunk tank, cornhole tournament, food from a different food truck each day—Luna’s Little Cheese, 3 Piggies and Tia’s Kitchen—and drink specials. “We will have live music from great local acts starting at 2 on Friday until Sunday at 7, with maybe 30 minutes in between,” Miller added. Proceeds from a fundraiser Saturday will benefit The Beach Kids Foundation, and on Sunday The Lewis P. Tabbarini Children’s Outreach Music Foundation, two great causes helping local children. Even those who can’t make the weekend-long event, can click the blue links above and support these incredible causes with likes, shares and monetary donations.
“I want everybody who loves the island to be there and I want them all to know they’re important to me (emphasis hers). We need everyone to be a part, it’s such a big deal,” Miller said in conclusion. We caught up with her Monday at Junkanoo Below Deck.
The FMB Islander will provide full coverage of the May 17 activities, starting at noon. Follow our Facebook page for updates over the next 10 days.