Two years after Ian, Fort Myers Beach favorite being rebuilt

The Beach Bar, a popular Fort Myers Beach hangout destroyed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022, is being rebuilt with a focus on resiliency.

Stevens Construction, which is rebuilding the bar at 1668 I St., says the work has started and is set to be completed next year.

The company says the design for the 5,813-square-foot, three-story building calls for the use of durable materials, composite soffits and a standing seam metal roof for greater longevity and storm resistance.

Stevens, which was part of a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday, says in a statement that the entire first floor is designed to be flexible and that the property will have temporary cooler storage and restroom trailers, both of which can be relocated in the event of a storm.

It will also use marine-grade cabinetry that is meant to handle harsh coastal elements including sunlight and saltwater exposure. And the building will have turtle-friendly glass and lighting to protect hatching sea turtles by controlling beachfront illumination.

The top two floors will be residential rental units.

Stevens Construction has been working on the design for about a year, helping with pre-applications and commercial planned development permitting with the town of Fort Myers Beach.

Long before Milton and Helene became household names, Hurricane Ian decimated Fort Myers Beach, leaving large chunks of the barrier island in tatters. Two years later, the island is coming back slowly.

While there is much discussion about what Fort Myers Beach will look and feel like in the years to come, bringing back a stalwart like the Beach Bar will, at least in a small way, return a sense of normalcy.

The Stevens Construction team working on the rebuild includes project manager Mark Pelafas, superintendent Hunter Stevens and project administrator Gina Varner. The building was designed by Studio A.D., a Fort Myers architecture firm.