LOCAL SWFL BUZZ JULY 20, 2009

Updates on the buzz heard across the bar and “All Around the Beverage Underground…July 20, 2009

Breaking News…7/20/09

Cin Cin has closed their doors as reported from banking sources…

BONITA SPRINGS: The Tiki Bar Restaurant on Bonita Beach Road is closing their doors Thursday June 30...owner Cindy Thurber worked hard and hung in…but the cost of operation has ended her fight. Let’s try to visit them this week to end on a high note.

Mile High Burger will reopen on the same road and the burgers will be the same…in a smaller location and better location within days. Visit them in the Center of Bonita Plaza near the Publix on Bonita Beach Road.

It’s called Dolly’s Produce Patch but it’s really the best homestyle breakfast in Bonita and sure they also have great produce…but the draw is their homemade pies. Dolly Alander is in her 70′s but works at least six days a week and her family has been here since way before Hurricane Donna…at that was 1960! It’s also a favorite stop for Sports Radio 770′s David Moulton and Mark Miller.

NAPLES:

The World Famous Cigar Bar will open it’s third Southwest Florida location, and first in Naples, at the exciting Mercato inthe fall. Congratulations to Rich Castiano...who began his career locally in 1982 as a bartender at TGIFridays at the Bell Tower.

The BeverageUnderground has found the difinative source for hard to find spirit, beer and wine brands…it’s called Bottom’s Up! Liquor and Wines.

On Fifth Avenue… Trilogy pulled the plug a month ago, while two new restaurants announced openings in October. Jane’s Cafe will occupy the building formerly known as trilogy and Zoe’s. Owner Jane Wood has breakfast-lunch locations but this will be her first dinner location with full bar service.

Rossopomodoro, a European chain restaurant with one other U.S. location in New York, leased 4,800 square feet near the intersection of Eighth Street South and Fifth Avenue South. The space stood empty after Naples Fifth Avenue Pharmacy left in 2006.

The BeverageUnderground was the first to let you know but it’s now in the big papers that Sweet Tomatoes will occupy the old Macaroni Grill in North Naples south of Immokalee Road.

In case you missed some of the other Naples’ closings…over the summer we have lost several including , Frascatti’s, “Mr.G’s Italian Restaurant, Gabriella’s, Peppino’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House Naples, Harvest Moon, and Blu Sushi Naples. Shark’s Cavern, Pewter Mug and Chardonnay Bar & Grill…claim they’ll be back with the same names…in the fall…but we’ll have to see.

FORT MYERS:

Shannon Yates is back at Cru and Jerome Sanchez formerly of Blu Sushi is selling the great line of specialty foods available at the Sandy Butler.

Shawn O’Rourke, who left Bistro 41 last month is now managing at Blu Sushi on McGregor.

MacDaddy’s has open on Daniel’s while Club Mirage is scheduled to open soon.

Congratulations to Priscilla Pique of Coastal Wine & Spirits who has left our area to join her fiance Mike D’Auria in Pensacola. Mike is a longtime representative and manager with both Southern Wine & Spirits and Coastal Wine & Spirits, who left the area for a promotion to General Manager of the Southern Wine & Spirits House in Pensacola.

Club Envie is closed in Downtown Fort Myers…and while a few merchants still hope that 18 and up for downtown Ft. Myers, it’s been a long summer for merchants. The bright spot of summer is Art Walk held the first Friday of every month.

TRIBUTES

The local beverage industry has been rocked with the passing of Mike Prindle on July 15, 2009. Mike was a great friend to our industry and a memorial celebration of his life is scheduled for July 25 in Sanibel. Mike was only 41, and was living in Minnesota. Recent health problems caused his death due to internal complications.

Many of us knew JP…Jeff Park, who passed away at age 50 on June 28th. JP was a Fine Wine sales Manager for Premier Beverage mostly in the Sarasota area, but his smile, warmth and personality is remembered from Holiday shows and wine tastings throughout the area. JP was also a familiar face from the great days and years of the Sarasota Wine Festival. He is survived by his wife, Julia.

Mrs. Betty Keller who was a pioneer female in our local restaurant industry as the owner of The legendary Witches Brew in Naples for 43 years recently died. Betty had been retired since ‘The Brew’ closed in May 2004. Read the Beverage Underground’s tribute to Betty, The Witches Brew and the bar business in Naples ‘Back in the Day’.