Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

FMBGN-BIZ-The Beach Bar-Toes in Sand, Beers in Hand: Fort Myers' First Post-Ian Comeback

• "Cabo" Jim Schaller • Season 5 • Episode 19

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From the rubble of Hurricane Ian rises a story of resilience, community, and cold beer. Matt Faller, manager of The Beach Bar on Fort Myers Beach, shares the remarkable journey of keeping a beloved local establishment alive against seemingly impossible odds.

The Beach Bar stands as a testament to the strength of Fort Myers Beach, having reopened just 97 days after Hurricane Ian devastated the island. Matt proudly recounts how they maintained operations with a trailer on their original property while planning their comeback. What began as a management position in 2019 evolved into a mission to preserve a community gathering place when disaster struck.

"The biggest silver lining I found immediately after Ian was this community," Matt reflects, describing how neighbors from all backgrounds united as family throughout the recovery process. This spirit of togetherness embodies the Beach Bar's welcoming philosophy: "Walk in as friends, dance out as family." It's more than a catchy phrase—it's the heartbeat of their approach to hospitality.

Beyond serving cold drinks with ocean views, the Beach Bar actively gives back through regular fundraisers including their September Blues Bash supporting local schools and December's Toys for Tots drive with the Marines. Even during challenging times, their commitment to community remains unwavering.

Originally from Long Island, Matt has fully embraced the Southwest Florida lifestyle, spending his rare free time paddleboarding, fishing, and enjoying the natural beauty that drew him to the area. His passion for the beach life shines through in the simple but perfect formula he's created: "Cold beer, live music, toes in the sand."

Visit the Beach Bar behind the Goods at 1668 I Street, connect with them on Facebook and Instagram @FMBtheBeachBar, and experience firsthand how a small beach bar helped heal a community and keeps the island spirit alive every day. Come witness Fort Myers Beach's remarkable revival and be part of the continuing story of paradise restored.

The Beach Bar

Matt Faller

1668 I Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

istreetbeachbrew@gmail.com

thebeachbarfmb.com

Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor
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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor podcast, where the sun's always shining and the stories are even brighter. Each episode we bring you closer to the neighbors, local legends and beachside businesses that make Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Pull up a beach chair, grab a drink and let's meet the people who make this island feel like home. We want to send out some island love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance USA and Home Well Care Services Fort Myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Here's your host, cabo, jim Schaller.

Speaker 2:

Welcome Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbors to another episode of the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor podcast. Today we have good neighbor Matt Faller from the Beach Bar. Welcome.

Speaker 3:

Hey, thanks for having me on and you're at the Beach Bar.

Speaker 2:

Right, that's right, all righty, absolutely. And you were one of the first businesses from Ian to recently reopen, so congrats on that. But for those of those listeners that aren't familiar with what you do, why don't you share a little bit about the beach bar?

Speaker 3:

So we're located right here, 1668 I Street, currently behind the Goodz setup, all right, right on the beach. You have the beach access here. Cold beer, live music, toes in the sand. It's a simple, simple thing here.

Speaker 2:

You got to love it. You got to love it.

Speaker 3:

Keep it simple right, that's it, keep it.

Speaker 2:

So let's back up your story a little bit. How'd you get involved in all this?

Speaker 3:

So Anthony and I started working for Greg before COVID back in 2019. Okay, we managed the bar then, and then COVID hit. We had shut down for a few months there. Yep, reopened afterwards in September and then crushed it for about two years until Hurricane Ian Right, and then we kept the business going. We were only shut down for 97 days. We're proud of that fact. We and then we kept the business going. We were only shut down for 97 days. We're proud of that fact. We had a trailer on the old property here, the old slab rather Yep, yep, and we kept the business alive, while Greg decided to rebuild Right, and that's a challenge in itself.

Speaker 2:

I'm talking about challenges. I mean, obviously, working at the beach is kind of like a dream job, right. It's like who doesn't like this view? But we all have storms that we encounter, you know whether negative, but there's some positive that comes out of it. Is there something that came out of it that you can look back at now and say you know what we made it through. We're finally moving forward.

Speaker 3:

The biggest silver lining I found immediately after Ian was this community. Everybody from all over the country, all the world, lives here and we all came together, we all became family almost throughout these last two and a half years and then that's the big thing.

Speaker 2:

It is about community, and when something like that happens, everybody comes together. It doesn't matter where you are, who you are, what you believe in, everybody kind of helps come support each other. And that's the important part, and that's what we're trying to do here is, you know, bring people together and be positive about it absolutely that's.

Speaker 3:

That's one of our mantras here at the Beach Bar. You know walk in as friends, dance out as family.

Speaker 2:

That's it. That's it. I say no shade, just sunshine. Right, amen, sun's out. We got to love it right, absolutely. So you talked about community. Are there certain things that you guys are doing or have done to help give back to the community?

Speaker 3:

So so we're going to be running our September Blues Bash. We do a school supply drive every year. Previously it was for the beach school, we'll be going towards Harlem Heights this year, okay. And then in our December Blues Bash we're running Tours for Tots with the United States Marines. So every at least once a quarter, if not once a month, we try to do some sort of fundraiser here.

Speaker 2:

I love it. I love it, you know. And again, it's about giving back to the community and as it gets busier, it only helps us more and more. I mean, it's slow time right now, so trying to get through the next month is going to be a little tough, but we'll get there, we'll get through. So are you from Southwest Florida originally?

Speaker 3:

Originally I'm from Long Island, new York.

Speaker 2:

Wow, what brought you down here?

Speaker 3:

So Anthony and I were co-managers here. We'd always talked about going to the beach after school and he had gotten a job at FGCU as a professor. So I moved down, I got the job at the beach bar and then I was working at Hertz Arena for the Florida Everblades COVID happened.

Speaker 1:

That crushed those dreams right away.

Speaker 3:

And then that was when Greg gave us the opportunity to take over as managers here at the bar.

Speaker 2:

Very nice, very nice. And who doesn't like that? You?

Speaker 3:

know, working outside with the guys or working outside at the beach.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, that's a little better. So I know running a business can be very demanding of your time, especially when you know you've got a small staff. What do you do, what do you enjoy doing outside of work when you do get a moment of free?

Speaker 3:

time. Like most people, I love the island here. I paddleboard, I fish, I kayak, I ride bikes. You know, I love the beach life, the island lifestyle. Right, that's it.

Speaker 2:

Getting outside, enjoying the weather and that's why we live here. And you know, enjoying this paradise that we are. Break a sweat, which I like, but then it's been clear. I mean it's been gorgeous recently.

Speaker 3:

It's been crazy, I'm clear. Fishing's been pretty good this summer.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, do you like going out fishing? Quite a bit Love it, love it. There you go, I won't ask you your favorite spots, because we're going to share that Like a magician, never Down here, snook A lot of Snook. I got my first harp in the spring so that was a lot of fun.

Speaker 3:

Nice, very good. Is there one thing you wish our listeners knew about the Beach Bar that maybe they're not too familiar with? Just come on in. It's a very inviting place. All walks of life, families are welcome, everybody's welcome here. That's really what we want to drive home. Walking with friends, dancing with family, cold beer, live music, toes in the sand that's really what we want to drive home. Like I said, walk in as friends dance at as family Cold beer, live music, toes in the sand.

Speaker 2:

That's what we try to encompass here, and you've got live music when season kicks in every day right.

Speaker 3:

So October through March we have seven days a week. Right now on my summer schedule, I still have bands Friday, saturday, sunday.

Speaker 2:

Nice. So it's a great atmosphere Watch the sunset, Grab some drinks, enjoy the live music it's a great thing. So obviously we're right behind the goods, but how would our listeners go about contacting you if they wanted to learn more or check you out before they came to visit?

Speaker 3:

So Facebook and Instagram are our best things. You can email us at iStreetBeachBrew, but Facebook and Instagram are really how we communicate with the community here. Very nice, very nice. FMB, the Beach Bar.

Speaker 2:

That's it. That's it. Any last words for our?

Speaker 3:

listeners. Well, thanks for having me on, jim, welcome, and let's have some fun here on this beautiful island.

Speaker 2:

I'm with you. I'm with you. Cheers, Matt. It's been a pleasure getting to know you. Thank you for being such a good neighbor.

Speaker 3:

And we'll see you out here on the beach. Real soon.

Speaker 2:

Looking forward, take care.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor Podcast, where community meets paradise. If you loved what you heard, share it with a friend and keep the good vibes going Until next time. Stay sunny, stay salty and keep being a good neighbor. Also, to nominate your favorite neighbors, local legends, heroes or island businesses to be on the show, go to CaboWaboJim. com. That's CaboWaboJim. com. Or call two, three, nine, four, two, seven, four, one, zero, zero. We want to send out some Island love to Eric tips from Edward Jones state insurance USA and home well care services Fort Myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of Island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers beach the slice of paradise we all.