Local 239 Media Celebs ‘Dance for The Cure’

The Southwest Florida Chapter of Susan G. Koman for the Cure  raised over $625,000  in events leading up to and including the Race for the Cure, the 5K Run/Walk that’s held the second Saturday of March at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero.

As a prelude to the Race, the  annual ‘Dancing Like the Stars’ competition was held Sunday March 3, 2013 and the Stars of Southwest Florida’s Network Media joined the Fort Myers Chapter of Fred Astaire Dance Studios to raise money for the fight against breast cancer in Naples.

Heather Turco and Robert Van Winkle of NBC-2 were the hosts for the evening which  included dinner and a night of entertainment.   Eight couples competed and four local media anchors and reporters from NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates and was hosted by .  The Celebrity dancers were trained and anchored by Fred Astaire instructors and competition performers.

The event was held at the Hilton of Naples and the celebrities included Kelly Creswell of NBC-2, Allyson Rae of ABC-7, Stephanie Susskind of CBS-WINK-TV and Robert Burns of CBS-WINK-TV along Pamela Belford a local Interior designer, Frederick Blaze who owns a local Furniture business, hair stylist Louis Bruno and Craig Jones of Chico’s International.

Dave Elliott Radio talk show host of WGUF-FM 98.9 ‘ Naples Talk FM’ was one of the three judges along with  Gayla Wright and Larry ‘Smokey’ Genta. Wright  is the local sales manager for WBBH-TV as well as a Board Member of Susan G. Koman and  ‘Smokey’ Genta, hosts and edits the Beverage Underground Network and 239Buzz.com.  

The winning dance team was led by Robert Burns,  the weekend sports anchor for WINK-TV, the local CBS affiliate and his partner Carly Ann Guerra who danced ‘Jive’ to Ray Charles’ song,  ‘ Shake Your tail Feather’ .   Burns had prior ballroom dancing experience and Guerra  has been a part of the Ft. Myers Fred Astaire Dance Team for two and a half years.

Theo Derleth led the team of Fred Astaire Dance Professionals and was joined by Carly Goellner, Alexander Ivanov, Russell Perkins, Ioana Piscu, Lyndsay Ridenour, Stephan Zhivkov and Guerra.

A silent auction as well as raffles and a live auction by Paradise Jewelers for a diamond bracelet all contributed to the fund raising efforts coordinated by The Pink Ribbon  Friends of Susan G. Komen.

Over 200 attended the cocktail party and dinner show and this year’s  ‘Dancing Like the Stars’ event also featured award winning ventriloquist Chelsi Murphy and Friends, Entertainer Andy Spaulding and DJ Tony Jandoli.

Marcum Enfield (L) is hysterical after hearing his father Andy (R) decided to uproot his family for a football school in California

Guess we’re supposed to say, “Thanks Andy”.

Thanks for putting us on the map.

Thanks for the dream week of college sports in the land of duffers and deep sea charters.

Thanks for showing that a T-shirt other than one by Guy Harvey or from Sloppy Joe’s can still sell in Florida.

Thanks…but so you know…we know that you didn’t have to do this…and now you can gather up your things and head out, because we’ve been telling ourselves and each other that you were somehow different than the ones we only read about before this.

This area of the country doesn’t get snubbed too much, and ask the real year round residents here, and they’ll tell you that they really don’t want any publicity or increases in flights to RSW.

We have elite golf courses and unbelievable beaches, fine dining and both theater and opera. Miami and Mickey are just a short drive away and we get our share of celebrities but they usually like to visit, stay and then come back often. 

We thought you were grounded and secure enough to know that you could do something monumental here. You could have been our Digger Phelps, our Dean Smith…hell, Coach K equals Duke and you were being added up and worked into every equation.

See our real  ‘dunk city’ is one that people dream of being a part of. 

This area has much to offer that others don’t and SWFL  adopted you after a 3-big game win streak. A community rallied and showed more than just bandwagon support. A thankful University and an entire area was ready to hand you the keys to three counties and find ways to get you money on the come.

This past Sunday in some churches locals stood and applauded Andy and his team while in others they prayed he’d stay.

the 239 was buzzing and the prophets from the bars to the gyms were all had reasons Andy might stay.  Some centered on him being a ‘multimillionaire’ but the core remained that he was a ‘family man’ that had it all. Great wife, three kids and the love and respect of an entire area.

After all it isn’t always about the money is it?  It’s USC Andy…not the hallowed ground of UCLA, there won’t be any Dead concerts with Walton and no comparisons with Wooden.

It’s USC Andy…. OJ’s Alma Mater and Todd Marinovich’s too.

It’s a film school, a school rich in tradition of NCAA violations, and from this fans perspective great basketball players don’t go to football schools like USC, they go to Basketball Schools like Gonzaga, Georgetown and Syracuse…. just like football players don’t go to Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke.

Andy…you let us down and signed up for the first shiny lure.  Go do your thing… we’ll say we knew you before you went to  #punkcityusc

Fort Myers Miracle Vice President and General Manager Andrew Seymour with Larry ‘Smokey’ Genta at the 2013 Ballpark Festival of Beers

(FORT MYERS, FLORIDA) Long before ‘the boys of summer’ find themselves on a ‘west coast road trip’ there is one event that is held on Florida’s west coast that unofficially signals the start of the new season.

In fact, to many it’s the symbolic start of two new ‘seasons’ in Lee County Florida when the Fort Myers Miracle holds their Annual Ballpark Festival of Beers on the open weekend before the Super Bowl.

It’s not only the first beer festival of the new year, but in Southwest Florida, its when the anticipation for the start Major League Baseball’s Grapefruit League picks up to the point that you can feel its just around the corner.

Ft. Myers  Welcomes  Baseball and 2013 Ballpark Beer Festival – www.239Buzz.com

The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A-Advanced Major League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and one of the premier minor league franchises in the Florida State League and for nine consecutive years they have also held the Premier Beer Festival in Southwest Florida.

“We have a big beautiful stadium that we like to show off and this is a local fund raising opportunity and a chance to sample from over 90 beers”, said Andrew Seymour, General Manager of the Ft Myers Miracle.

The annual event gets a great response from the community and every year the Miracle chooses a local charity effort to benefit from the tips and offer service to the guests. Local Beer Distributors J.J. Taylor and Suncoast Beverage Sales help facilitate the expansive beer tasting.

The great local band SuperBot entertained the crowd again this year and BeverageUnderground was on-location to visit with area beer aficionados as well as local celebrities like Big Mama of B-103 FM’s highly rated morning drive program.

Some of the many beers available were Sweetwater 420, Holly Mackerel Golden Ale, Florida Avenue Ale, Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan, Dogfish 90 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Narwhal, Wells Banana Bread, Rogue Hazelnut Brown, and Tampa’s own Cigar City Hotter than Helles Lager.

VIP’s included Santa Claus and Eddie ‘Fishbowl’ at Jagermeister’s VIP Party at Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral

Ice Cold Shots of Jagermeister flowed from the ‘Guitar Luge’ and Michael Collins Irish Whiskey and Barenjager Honey Bourbon were featured in cocktails at all bars when Sidney Frank Importing Company visited The Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral Florida to throw the biggest VIP Party of 2012.

The event was held Sunday Night December 2 and featured a catered and complimentary party that was by invitation only for the Hospitality Industry and friends of Jagermeister and the Dixie Roadhouse.

A free concert that featured two of the area’s hottest bands of 2012, Day Minus 7 and The Fall Down entertained the mixed crowd and Dixie Roadhouse DJ’s kept the dance floor filled. “The Dixie’s” Jay Fitzwater gave lessons and led line dancers throughout the evening and the lavish buffet was provided by Wine & Roses of Cape Coral.

BeverageUnderground.com was on-location and the guest poured in from Sarasota to Marco Island for the event. The Jagerettes were on hand to to make sure guests were thanked with Official Jagermeister hats, shirts and other promotional materials.

Jagermeister selected The Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral to host their Annual VIP Industry Party for the State of Florida and representatives from Sidney Frank Importing Company as well as Southern Wine & Spirits were in attendance.

The Dixie Roadhouse was named Southwest’s Florida’s Best Nightclub & Bar in 2012 by Metromix Magazine. The Dixie Roadhouse is located at 1023 SE 47^th Terrace, Cape Coral, Florida 33940 www.thedixie.com 239-541-7900 

Please share this with your friends and subscribe to the Beverage Underground Youtube Channel to stay connected to the people places and products that shape the hospitality, tourism and beverage industries. Visit our homepage at www.BeverageUnderground.com and while in Southwest Florida connect with  www.239Buzz.com . Find us on Facebook and on Twitter@BeverageNet

Fuzzy Zoeller’s Ultra Premium Vodka continues to win awards and accolades

(NAPLES. FL) There’s is no better place to call your home away from home than Southwest Florida, but  former Masters Champion Fuzzy Zoeller has been able to do just that for over 40 years.

This Saturday Night December 8th, Fuzzy Zoeller will be at one of his favorite local spots, Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant for “the freshest seafood in the entire area’ and to see some of his longtime friends in Naples.

But Fuzzy never had a problem making new friends and since he launched his handcrafted Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka back in 2009 he’s made a lot more. His quest to find the smoothest vodka resulted in making vodka, and after a four year process of trial and error distilling, he felt he had a vodka that was ready to have his name on it. 

 You’ll be able to meet Fuzzy, try his award winning vodka and also purchase autographed bottles of Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka only at Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant in North Naples this Saturday Night December 2 beginning at 6 PM.

Make no mistake, like Zoeller himself, this vodka is the ‘real deal’.  Distilled five times from corn, Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka starts with pure Cascade Mountain spring water. This ‘Made in the USA’ vodka is exceptional and it immediately received critical acclaim and has been awarded two gold medals and a 94 rating from the Beverage Testing Institute.

 In addition, Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka also received the 2012 Chairman’s Trophy for the Best Unflavored Vodka from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, rating it as the best in the world.

Now available in 36 States, Zoeller himself, along with a team of beverage industry professionals are on the road introducing and pouring Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka at golf courses, restaurants, hotels, bars and retail stores.

Jerald O’Kennard, Director of the Beverage Testing Institute said,  “94 is an extremely good score, and unusually high,” Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka is quite exceptional, and our review places it in the upper echelons of vodkas worldwide in terms of quality, flavor and smoothness.”

But his vodka is just one of his calling cards and long before he was a distiller, Fuzzy Zoeller made his name on the golf course.

It was Frank Urban Zoeller’s initials that got him his nickname Fuzzy, but it was the chance to play golf in Florida that got him to head south after high school growing up in New Albany Indiana. 

Zoeller first came to Southwest Florida in 1971, fresh out of High School and after shunning  offers to play golf for a few northerncolleges he chose the then Edison Junior College in Fort Myers. After two years at Edison, Zoeller transferred to the University of Houston for a year before getting his PGA Pro tour card.

The PGA Champion has always been known as one of the tours most personable jokesters as well as one of the best competitors.

In 1979, Zoeller became the first golfer since 1935 to win The Masters in his first appearance in the event, and he did it in grand fashion when he came from six strokes behind in the last 13 holes to tie Ed Sneed and Tom Watson. In the playoff Fuzzy holed an eight-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole, clinching the $ 50,000 first-place prize and a place in golfing history.

Zoeller also won the 1984 U.S. Open and it also took an 18-hole playoff with Greg Norman. But before winning it all, Fuzzy became famous for waving a white towel in mock surrender from the fairway of the 72nd hole of the tournament after Greg Norman holed a long putt on the 72nd green to tie Zoeller for the tournament lead forcing the playoff.

But the playoff was “All Fuzzy’ and he won by 8 stokes which prompted Norman to return the joke and wave his white towel the end of the 18-hole playoff the next day. 

Zoeller was voted the 1985 winner of the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Associationin recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

Chef Randy Essig is known for both his restaurant and his fishmarket, but he also makes the very best Key Lime Pie in Florida

Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka
Saturday December 8, 2012
Tasting & Bottle Signing 6-8 PM
Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant
10395 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34108
(239) 593-5555

The Inaugural Art of the Olympians Golf Tournament Tuesday December 4

(BONITA SPRINGS, FL) This  Tuesday December 4, 2012 marks the Inaugural Art of the Olympians College of Life Foundation Premiere Olympian Golf Classic at The Colony Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida.

The official start of the three-day event begins Sunday with a private dinner for players and a limited number of the highest charitable donors and all players and contributors have been invited for an after dinner Cigar Social and ‘Meet & Greet’ at The World Famous Cigar Bar.

Gary Sheffield former MLB All-Star will host the ‘Meet & Greet’ event and his Sheffield HR 500 Cigar will be featured and offered to all players and guests Sunday Night from 6-10 PM at the WFCB Gulf Coast Town Center location.

The event was organized locally by  Bob Beamon, the 1968 Olympic long jump gold medalist.  Beamon recruited his longtime friend NBA Hall-of-Fame icon Julius ‘Doctor J’ Erving as the headliner and soon after the field of athletes, actors and celebrities grew.

In just the first year of the event the ‘Art of  the Olympians’ can boast a field of over 50 celebrities that include Hall-of Fame Athletes and All-Stars from multiple sports, and such Olympic Champions as track stars Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner Kerse, Harvey Glance, Ralph Boston, Lashawn Merritt, Will Claye and Justin Gatlin.

Bob Beamon, is the CEO of Art of the Olympians and the1968 Olympic long jump gold medalist whose world record leap lasted for nearly 22 years.

Gold Medal Swimmers Peter Vanderkaay, Rowdy Gaines, Darvis Tarwater and Tyler McGill will also tee it up, as will Gymnasts Carly Patterson and Shannon Miller, who is the most decorated US Gymnast having totaled 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals in her 1992 and 1996 Olympic games.

Even Mike Eruzione, the captain of the historic 1980 US Gold Medal Hockey team will appear. Eruzione, scored the winning goal in the infamous ‘Miracle on Ice’ game vs Russia.

NFL Alumni Thurman Thomas, Nat Moore, Cornelius Bennett, Fred McCrary, Everson Walls, Victor Green, Ki-Jana Carter, Chris Doleman, Mike Vanderjagdt and Ickey Woods are just a few football stars to expect.

 Professional Golfers Lee Elder, Mark McCumber and Bobby Nichols, Tennis Pro Tom Gullickson, NBA Hall-of-Famer Artis Gilmore and five time All-Star Chris Mullen as well as ESPN broadcaster Jeremy Schaap are also scheduled to play Tuesday at The Colony in Bonita Springs.

Golf will become an official Olympic Sport for the first time in history at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  This Inaugural Golf Tournament will celebrate the blending of these sports arenas and enrich the lives of youth by sustaining Art of the Olympians programs of art, sport and culture through the 2016 Olympic Games and beyond.

The partnership between Art of the Olympians and College of Life Foundation formed from a mutual emphasis of the importance of education.

The Olympians College of Life Foundation Premiere Golf Classic provides immediate exposure and relationship building opportunities for supporters and participants and creates  long-term benefits by enhancing the lives of young people.

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Flying to Southwest Florida’s RSW Airport is a fast way to the tropics all year round

From the old Florida opulence and seclusion of Captiva and Useppa Islands to the “Spring Break’ Getaway of Fort Myers Beach, locally owned restaurants and  bars along with their staffs are both expecting and hoping…for a busy and profitable ‘season’.

Southwest Florida remains one of the nation’s best resort areas for families based in the cold climates providing the perfect combination of recreation and resort. Easy access to area code 239 and a tropical backdrop within the United States makes the Fort Myers-Naples area extra attractive to visitors especially when blizzards are reported before Thanksgiving.

But it’s not just about all the golf , fishing and boating that goes on there, Southwest Florida also is known for Spring Training Baseball, its attention to the Arts and its many great local restaurants.

And all around Southwest Florida from Naples’ 5th Avenue to the Downtown Fort Myers’ River District and from Matlacha to Marco Island. talented and independent chefs, servers, bartenders and the owners and managers of local hospitality outlets hope visitors break the ‘chain’ habit.

Really…what’s the point of another Longhorn Steak  or Red Lobster when you can get higher quality and better portioned meals prepared by chef’s that have studied and apprenticed as opposed to those that went thru 2 weeks of Applebee’s University?

Give me a meal served by an independent local…one who can show a personality that the corporates frown on.  One that works at an independent restaurant or bar because they sponsor junior soccer or little league baseball and a local one that’s always ready to give to local charities and concerns without headline grabbing giant check photos.

Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant in North Naples is a local and visitor favorite and home to SWFL’s Best Key Lime Pie

But before we start and after dinner please make me a drink where the bartender knows  cocktails and wine beyond the corporate drink lists.  One where the bar manager isn’t following a corporate initiative and knows brands beyond Absolut, Captain Morgan, Kendall-Jackson and whatever else sells the same in Topeka and Sandusky as it does in Portland Oregon and Portland Maine.

Now we know the chains will be there…serving lettuce wraps and blooming onions and whatever Ruby Tuesdays is doing these days.   We also know that servers and bartenders that work there also live here and their kids go to schools here too.

But we don’t want to eat all our meals and we certainly don’t want to have a rumrunner at those big box restaurants who rely on high traffic counts and familiar mediocrity.

The ‘World Famous’ Cigar Bar has announced their first ever Golf  Tournament and it comes with both a purpose and a passion.

The Tournament will be held at Grandezza Country Club in Fort Myers on Thursday October 18 and the “World Famous” Cigar Bar has put together a great day of good times and great cigars along with lunch, dinner and prizes that could include a new car.  The golf will be a ‘fun scramble’ format and only 72 players will be accepted for the tourney with an all-inclusive the entry fee of only $85. 

The Passion Foundation will be the benefactor of this great day of golf and friendship as local businesses and friends of Jon and Tara Parla celebrate her life and her vision to bring awareness and a solution to the dangers of the sun and its harmful UV Rays.

Since Jon and Tara came to Southwest Florida they have been friends and more like ‘family’ to all that enjoy and work at The World Famous Cigar Bar, so Rich Castiano and staff along with tile sponsor David Anthony Insurance have launched the first ever golf tourney to benefit The Passion Foundation and to help prevent melanoma. 

Expect some great cigars from Rocky Patel as well as from The Tiant Cigar Group and great prizes that could include a new car from Estero Bay Chevrolet for a Hole-In-One. In addition players can win a one-of-a-kind Rocky Patel Humidor Chest with 150 cigars and an autographed print of MLB’s  Legendary Cuban All-Star Pitcher and Cigar maker, ‘El Tiante’,  Luis Tiant.  Golf Equipment from Lumpy’s and gift certificates from area merchants will also be raffled.

The Tournament will include an auction and dinner party following golf at “The World Famous” Cigar Bar‘s Gulf Coast Town Center catered by The Outback Steak House.

The Passion Foundation was founded by Jon and Tara Parla, after  she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastic Melanoma. Her battle for life began then but together and as a family, their goal was to immediately raise awareness to help mitigate
melanoma by providing shade for our children.   

Tara Parla lost her battle to melanoma on September 6,2012 . 

‘Guy’s Night Out’ for The Passion Foundation on June 8, 2011. Tara Parla (C)

Studies show that while melanoma accounts for about 3%of all cancers, it accounts for 75% of all cancer deaths. Research has determined that 23%  of those afflicted with this form of cancer registered dangerous sun damage  by the time they were 18.  The Passion Foundation wants to bring that number down in Florida by raising funds to cover playgrounds with shade tents that help to block out 96% of harmful UV rays and lower the temperature 15-20 degrees underneath the tents.

Teams are being formed for the event and sponsorships are still available.   The World Famous Cigar Bar Golf Tournament will be a great celebration of a special lady whose smile is remembered by all.  Palayers can expect to see local Cigar Celebrities Rocky Patel, Nish Patel and Dan Tiant…with cigars in hand,  teeing it up at Grandezza for this great cause. 

Sponsorship and player information should be directed to Kevin Robbins or by contacting the World Famous Cigar Bar
Gulf Coast Town Center at (239) 267-6020

ZombiCon Grows and The Galactic Infection is a Three-Day Convention and Street Fest Oct 19,20 &21

For the 6th straight year ZombiCon will brings tens of  thousands of marching ‘dead’ while bringing ‘life’ to Downtown Ft. Myers. In years past ZombiCon was a one day event that in recent years became the most attended annual single event in all of  SWFL. 

This year, the worldwide conclave of zombies will get 3-days of great entertainment, special guests and attractions as the downtown bars and merchants register their best weekend of business in downtown Ft. Myers. 

The Galactic Infection is this year’s ZombiCon theme and it will consume the Historic Fort Myers River District Friday October 19, Saturday October 20 and Sunday 21 with a charitable convention and street music fest that will be headquartered at Harborside Convention Center. GET TICKETS

Despite pleas and petitions the non-profit organization that has grown the event won’t have the financial support of the City of Fort Myers and event planners will provide security and sanitation throughout the convention streets. DONATE

Zombicon  is a creation and coordination of great magnitude and done by Pushing DaiZies, Inc, a group of local artists who formed a volunteer non-profit organization for the arts back in 2007.  ZombiCon connects  with the global cult of Zombie art and has established Fort Myers as a “International Zombie Tourist Destination”.  Get Official ZombiCon Gear HERE.

BeverageUnderground at ZombiCon 2011

The event is spurred by ‘Zombie History’ as Artist and Film Maker George Romero who was vacationing on Captiva Island and determined that the then depressed streets of  Fort Myers were the perfect opening scene for the ‘dead downtown’ backdrop for his classic cult 1985 film “Day of the Dead”.

Cult Classic Zombie Rockers the Cadillac Creeps Appear at ZombiCon 2012

This year the ZombiCon line-up of guests includes over 90 exhibitors, work-shops, and an impressive line-up of artists, authors actors and cult figures in Zombie Culture including  Doc Lucky the Author of The Zombie Dictionary, Zombie weapon inventor, and creator of The Zombie Cause!

The entertainment will include The Cadillac Creeps and the Bloody Jug Band as well as other local, regional and national bands.

Romero, 71 lives in New York City and has been called both ‘The Grandfather’ and “The Godfather’ of the Zombies and his trilogy of films,  Night of the Living Dead (1968),  Dawn of the Dead (1978) and “Day of the Dead (1985) define the modern genre of horror special effects and cosmetic artistry.

The Third Friday of Every Month is Downtown Fort Myers Music Walk and this month marks its 4th Anniversary. Originally motivated by the success of  Fort Myers Art Walk, held on the first weekend monthly Music Walk features free live music and local musicians at both retail and hospitality merchants.  The Howl Gallery will extend Music Walk to include a special two-day concert line-up to celebrate ZombiCon.  

The 2012 Naples Stone Crab Festival October 26-28

Festivities for the Annual Celebration of the open season on Stone Crabs begins on Friday Night October 26 at Pincher’s Crab Shack’s Tin City location and The Naples Stone Crab Festival has a full weekend of events planned for both sides of the Gordon River Bridge.

The Old Naples Waterfront Association in partnership with the City of Naples and four other business districts in downtown Old Naples created the festival that will include all-day and evening events at waterfront locations to enjoy food, games, children’s activities and live music.

Tin City, the Port O’Call Marina, Kelly’s Fish House,  The Bayfront Inn, The Naples Bay Resort, Jack’s River Bar, Shane’s Cabana Bar, The Riverwalk, and The Dock Restaurant all have events planned both Saturday October 27 and all-day Sunday October 28.

Cheney Brothers Invests in SWFL

Cheney Brothers Incorporated (CBI), Florida’s largest and the South’s fastest growing Independent Broadline Hospitality Distributors has recently signed contracts to bring a 250,000 square foot, $100 million distribution center to Punta Gorda in Charlotte County that will service the entire west coast of Florida from North Tampa to Marco Island in 2013-2014.

Founded in 1925, Cheney Brothers has grown from a distributor of milk and eggs into one of the largest Food  Service Distributors in the South and is still owned by the same family. Byron Russell, grandson of Founder Joe Cheney is the CEO at Cheney Brothers.

“This is exciting for everybody,” Cheney Brothers President and CEO Bill Foley said. “We were looking at sites that would be able to service our customers up and down the coastline, and this was right in the middle.  “We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Charlotte County. Everyone in county government has been very helpful throughout the process”.

Cheney Brothers will bring an estimated 380 jobs to the West Coast of Florida over the next several years.

Today, Cheney Brothers inventories over 15,000 items with yearly revenues exceeding one billion dollars. Southwest Florida is well serviced currently by CBI from their  Riviera Beach Florida headquarters, and the The Punta Gorda plant would be the third in Florida with an additional warehouse  in Ocala  and the company also owns a specialized beef
facility in Orlando.

“We just rallied  support for them, because obviously we want those jobs here,” said Chris Evans, director of operations for Smuggler’s Restaurants and Bars.

Evans said at least a third of their stock comes from Cheney Brothers. Evans said that percentage will  be
higher at the end of existing contracts with Sysco lapse.

Sysco is a global food distributor that used to be the primary option for Southwest Florida eateries and Cheney is independent and provides  options in selection and pricing. With Cheney bringing jobs to Charlotte County and dumping millions into the local economy, though, Evans said he and his partner Bruce Laishley are spreading the Cheney
name.

“You’ve got a company investing $110 million dollars in a community… and the whole community has been very
supportive and very eager to work with Cheney Brothers,” Laishley said.

“This project is a business gain for Florida, as well as Charlotte County” said Florida Governor Rick Scott. “Cheney Brothers’ growth sets the stage for positive economic effects this new distribution center will create”.

Part of Cheney’s commitment is that its average wage at the Punta Gorda center will be $36,000, about one-sixth above average county wages. Commissioners touted the deal as the single largest job generator in county history and praised all parties involved.

“This is the biggest economic development project we’ve had in Charlotte County,” said Charlotte County Commissioner Tricia Duffy. “Cheney’s operation will involve high-technology distribution, so that besides typical administrative jobs  and fork-lift operators, there will be managers and information technology staff”, Duffy said in explaining the above-average wages.

Commissioners earlier this month approved an economic incentive package that will allow Cheney
Brothers to forgo about $1.2 million in property taxes over the next decade to build the distribution center
— pumping $5.8 million back into the local economy over that time, according to county estimates.

Cheney Brothers also plans to pursue state incentives under the Brownfield redevelopment program,
which could give the company up to $2,500 for every job created.

The company’s $2.5 million bid was the only offer on the table for the 35 acres, which is located at 6551
Airport Road — directly behind the county jail and public safety complex. The site was known as “FEMA
Village” for the thousands of residents who set up temporary housing there following Hurricane Charley.
“These are extremely tough economic times, and anything to promote job growth in our community will
be welcomed with open arms,” new Charlotte Commission Chairman Chris Constance said. “A lot of the incentives are paid on the back end and there’s requirements written into the contract to prevent a situation like
Publix, which bought land from the airport but never built.”

Cheney Brothers has added staff in recent weeks in Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties and continues to grow market share in Southwest Florida.