August 31, 2025 • 18 mins
Daniel Clarkston never imagined owning a bar when he first moved to Southwest Florida from Germany in 2017. Yet today, his Mr. Waves Island Bar stands as a testament to entrepreneurial spirit and community resilience on Fort Myers Beach.
When Daniel and his wife purchased a prime Times Square property in mid-2022, they had no restaurant experience and an uncertain vision. Then Hurricane Ian hit. While devastating for the island, the storm's aftermath revealed an opportunity: the beach's beloved party bars were gone, leaving a void in the community. Mr. Waves stepped in, creating a vibrant space offering karaoke seven days a week, all-day breakfast, and their now-famous giant bucket drinks.
"Fort Myers Beach is very special because it's not owned by bigger corporations, it's literally family business oriented," Daniel explains, pinpointing exactly what gives the area its unique charm compared to other Florida beach destinations. This family-focused approach resonates throughout Mr. Waves, where locals and tourists alike gather from 8am (making it one of the earliest-opening establishments on the beach) until late evening for food, drinks, and singing.
The challenges weren't insignificant - navigating flood elevation changes, permitting issues, and the struggle to let people know Fort Myers Beach is open for business post-Ian. Yet two years later, Mr. Waves has become a beloved fixture on the beach, even expanding with PedalTiki.com, a 14-person party bike offering island tours and pub crawls.
Daniel's journey from German teacher to beach bar owner shows what's possible when passion meets opportunity. Whether you're planning your first visit or returning to see how the beach has rebuilt, make sure Mr. Waves is on your list - your karaoke song can't wait any longer! Find them on social media or at MrWavesIslandBar.com to plan your visit.
Mr. Waves Island Bar
Daniel Clarkston
1028 Fifth Street Ste A Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 299-9311
management@mrwavesislandbar.com
mrwavesislandbar.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor
Podcast, where the sun's alwaysshining and the stories are even
brighter.
Each episode we bring youcloser to the neighbors, local
legends and beachside businessesthat make Fort Myers Beach the
slice of paradise we all love.
Pull up a beach chair, grab adrink and let's meet the people
who make this island feel likehome.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
(00:21):
Jones State Insurance, usa andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
Love to Eric Tibbs from EdwardJones State Insurance, usa and
Home Well Care Services FortMyers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
of paradise we all love.
Here's your host, cabo, jimSchaller.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome Fort Myers Beach, Good Neighbors where we
offer no shade and just sunshine.
So today we have good neighborDaniel Clarkston from Mr Waves
Island Bar.
Welcome, hey, everybody, Thanksfor being on the show.
Yeah, thank you for being hereand sharing your story with our
listeners.
So let's back up your story alittle bit.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
And well, first of all, I want you to share a
little bit about, uh, mr waves,to start off with yeah, mr waves
island bar is right on timesquare, right when you come over
the bridge, the first buildingyou see.
Um, we share, um the we're ontime square, fort myers beach,
and um, we do karaoke seven daysa week, um, every night.
(01:22):
Um, currently we have karaokeon saturdays and sundays
starting at 1 pm, so, um, allday karaoke.
We do breakfast all day.
Um, we have a full kitchen forlunch and dinner and um, yeah,
we're just a nice beach hangout,uh, where people can uh, uh,
cool off from the, from the sand, grab a drink, grab a bite to
(01:45):
eat and sing whatever song theylike.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Sing their favorite song right At the top of their
lungs.
We love it.
It's all about a good time.
I love that.
So let's back up your story alittle bit.
How did you get involved in thebar business to start with?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, so basically we living on Fort Myers Beach
prior to getting in already, wewere running two small motels
and vacation rentals and thebuilding on Times Square where
we're in right now was for sale.
And obviously coming around aproperty on Fort Myers Beach, on
(02:29):
Times Square, is pretty rare,right, I mean within ownership
for 10, 20 years, sometimes theygo through the generations and
we thought how would thatpossible?
We tried to find a way out ofhow it's possible to make that
happen, to acquire the propertyand what kind of business would
(02:54):
fit there.
In regards to, yeah, obviously,pay off any debt.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right, right, you want to make money you don't
have to take on to acquire theproperty.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
The property back then had a t-shirt shop in there
and on the other side ColdStone, cold Stone wanted to stay
.
That's fine.
I was not really on the smallercommercial unit anyways, but
the bigger one where the t-shirtshop was in.
And then I mean, it's not afar-fetched thought that a, a
(03:28):
bar and restaurant would makemore sense than a t-shirt shop.
And um, that's kind of how we,how we got into all of that.
So no prior prior restaurant orbar experience, right?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
right, just jump right in and said we'll figure
it out as we go right exactly inthe end.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, the end, yeah, we, we made a, we made a
bartending me and my wife weattended a bartend, pretty
intensive bartending schoolprior to opening everything.
And I mean, in the end it'sbusiness, right, it's numbers.
You got X amount coming in andX amount going out and you got
to be sure that a little bitmore comes in than it then goes
(04:08):
out.
So and we, we kind of did thesame with the, with the hotels
and the vacation rentals, whichis also was also a business.
We didn't kind of go to schoolfor or learn, but in the end
it's it's in the end it's abusiness.
And once and we're pretty goodwith understanding numbers so we
thought why not give it a try?
(04:28):
Worst case it doesn't work, butI think it works.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So we're pretty happy .
Speaker 3 (04:39):
In November we celebrate our two-year opening
anniversary and, yeah, we'rehaving a good time with the
place and people love it.
We're widely accepted by thebeach community, people from the
mainland, fort Myers, capeCoral, et cetera.
They recognize us, they knowour name by now and that's
(05:01):
pretty cool because they're alsocoming and especially in the
kind of coming and especially,um, in the kind of realm of
karaoke bars in in the area.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
We we made a name for ourselves which is great and,
um, yeah, it works that is great, see you follow your heart,
follow your passion, and itleads you to new directions and
new, new business opportunities.
I love that you just kind offollowed it and went with it and
you know, you know you foundwhat the area really needed as
far as the business is concerned.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, especially after Hurricane Ian, we had to
rethink everything, right.
I mean, our building was prettymuch the only one well, the
only restaurant, whatever,however you want to call it one
of the apartments that was stillstanding.
The rest was kind of piled upright behind us and on our roof.
And then, you know, with otherpopular places on the beach gone
(05:55):
and nothing, um, nothing insight for rebuilding, etc.
Etc.
We kind of had to, had to pivot.
What kind of comp.
Because during when hurricaneian happened, we weren't open
yet right.
So we bought the building likeI think, in june or july before
hurricane ian happened.
So that was, uh, quite a bummerwith our plans.
(06:17):
But in the end, you know, onceyou're able to adjust your plans
and you stay flexible, yeah, wewere able to come up with
something, like you said, whatwe thought the community will
definitely appreciate to have,which is kind of a party bar, I
mean a restaurant.
There's multiple restaurants onthe island and we always knew
(06:40):
there will be again, and therewas a handful of party bars on
Fort Myers Beach prior to Ianand they were pretty much all
gone.
So we kind of tried to step inthat void.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So what's been your biggest challenge in growing
from EAN to where you are now?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Well, in the beginning, the biggest challenge
was understanding all the codestuff and, you know, I mean not
necessarily permitting.
We, of course, knew it wouldneed a permitting, but then, I
believe, beginning ofmid-November, the flood
elevation changed 2022, so a fewmonths after E and so whatever
(07:26):
was not put into permittingbefore that date would not be
able to do anything and it'skind of under the restrictions.
That are the challenges rightnow, for, I mean, our neighbors,
la Ola, you know, that have tobuild up high, et cetera, et
cetera.
So, understanding all thatwhich, honestly, when we bought
it, we were not aware of that.
(07:47):
We, you know there's so muchstuff coming at the same time
with the hurricane and the floodelevation change, et cetera.
So we were, I mean, we foundout really quickly after we
purchased it and, um, yeah, wewere able to put in our
permitting, um, a day beforethat.
So we were good, nice, yeah, sothat was one challenge.
(08:07):
And then, basically, I mean,there's just, you know, business
, business costs and businessproblems every day, starting
from from crazy guests that wantto make a mess and want to
fight uh to to um, you know just.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Welcome to the bar and restaurant industry, right
yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
I think I think that's not nothing really to
mention.
Um, I mean the challenge,challenges, it's.
I think it's more on a broaderscreen, just it's.
I think it's more on a broaderscreen, broader, uh, a broader
term.
When it comes to recognition ofthe island, I think we we still
struggle with being recognizedas a fully open and operational
(08:49):
beach destination.
Um, past ian, I mean I still.
I mean it's 20, it's august 25and I still talk to people in my
bar oh my God, that's the firsttime I came to Turkey.
I'm like where do you live?
Well, southwest Cape.
I'm like it's 20 minutes, youknow.
(09:09):
I mean it's fair, people dowhatever they want.
But I feel like there's so muchto do and so much to experience
on Fort Myers Beach and I feellike there's not really yeah,
there's not really marketingabout it.
So people, I mean, obviously Ireckon Ian was pretty bad
publicity, so to say, right, andthat was in the news nationwide
(09:32):
.
But I feel like we need to pushto get the word out that we are
open and ready for business andyou're going to have a
phenomenal time on Fort MyersBeach.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, and there's a lot of good things happening
down here.
Absolutely, and part of it isand that's part of the reason
I'm doing the podcast too is toget some of that good, positive
stuff out there and say, hey,fort Myers Beach is open,
there's a lot of good thingshappening down here and some
news popping up every day, sopeople need to come back and
check it, not just the tourists,but the locals as well too.
So, talking about Fort MyersBeach beach in general, are
(10:06):
there certain things you'redoing to my, maybe embrace or be
involved with the community?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
um, well, for my speech, obviously we just had
the beach renourishment.
I mean, it says it in the namepeople come for our great beach
and our nice sand, um, I thinkwe're always in the top five, if
not top, you know, definitelyin the top 10 of best beaches in
in the us and, um, that's great, I feel like, for my speech is
very special because of the well, first of all, the mix of
(10:38):
people that that still livethere.
It's not owned by biggercorporation, it's, it's
literally fam, pretty, familybusiness orientated, um,
oriented, and that brings acertain vibe which you don't
find on the other coast ofFlorida, which you don't find
necessarily in Tampa either, orPeelwater in St Petersburg, and
(11:02):
that gives it its charm and itgives Fort Myers Beach the place
and, obviously, culinary-wise,it has everything you can look
for.
It has the beach bars, it hasthe bike bars, it has the
(11:23):
upper-scale restaurants.
I mean, it has everything youneed for a full beach, uh, beach
town destination.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So something, something for everybody, right?
So are you from SouthwestFlorida originally.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
No, no, I came in 2017.
Um, I was born and raised inGermany.
Um went to school there mydad's American and my mom's
German but lived there.
I went to school there andalways had an American passport
since birth.
And then I met my now wife andbaby mother and my dad up to a
little three and a half monthold.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Congrats.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Thank you, thank you, that's life changing.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, no, it's fun,it's fun, we couldn't wait.
Oh yeah, no, it's fun, it's fun, we couldn't wait.
And yeah, I came over.
I met her in Frankfurt, whereI'm from, and she's a dual
citizen as well and yeah, shewas living here in Fort Myers.
So I came over here and I waslike you know, why not?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I was going to ask how did you get to Fort Myers?
But that's a good reason.
You've got to love that rightExactly.
At least she wasn't up whileyou were from Germany, but at
least I'm from Wisconsinoriginally, so it snows and it's
cold up there.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I'm not sure if she would have been that attractive
if that would have been the case.
No, I'm just joking.
But yeah, obviously you know,living in Florida it's great.
It's something you basicallyonly dream about or hear in
documentaries.
And I something you basicallyonly dream about or hear in
documentaries, and I mean it'syou know, it's all about taking
the chance.
The worst thing is it doesn'twork and then you're back at
square one, but you're therealready, so it's not like and
(12:59):
you're doing the right thingsand taking the right chances and
we love what you do.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So outside of work.
I know owning a business andyou do some other things on the
side as well too can be verydemanding of your time.
What is it you enjoy doingoutside of work?
Obviously, you have a three anda half month old, so that's a
lot of it right now.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Right.
So I mean I do like fishing,although I haven't been fishing
when fishing twice last year,which is terrible Now that I
think about it.
But I mean mean I do love mywork, you know it's it's really
uh.
So I went to university forbeing a teacher and, um, I
finished my, finished my collegein germany, um, doing that
(13:38):
being that and and I mean itwasn't a bad job or anything,
but it was a job, right, yeah,still.
So it's not like it was not mylife passion, it was a rational
decision.
You know, after my high schoolwas what path can I go with my
um, with my grades and stuff, um, and so I kind of had real
(14:00):
estate experience a little bitfrom from germany, but uh, that
really, that really came tofruition in the States and that
is what I love.
So I mean I wouldn't have calledit a hobby either, but it's
kind of washing into each other,right, it's not like I have a
whatever volleyball trainingtwice a week or something.
(14:26):
It's not going to be classifiedas a hobby maybe, but that's
not really the case.
I mean I like fishing.
I've been doing music um all mylife, which I um haven't been
doing maybe the last eight, tenyears, um, but I was also there.
I was rather on the businessside.
(14:47):
When I was in high school wegot a record deal in Germany and
stuff like that.
Then we were touring Europe.
Although it was a hobby, it'skind of professional.
It's part of your career.
That being said, if you likesomething a lot, I feel like
(15:08):
there's a way to make money withit, most of the time at least,
and professionalize it, andthat's where really the fun
comes, because you know and youhave a little bit of a story.
And I mean I love what I do, mywife loves what she does, and
you know there's always problems, but that's everywhere.
(15:29):
So in the in the end, in theend it's a it's, it's a great,
great way to live, right?
And I don't need a hobby tobalance out my job, necessarily,
because I don't hate my job.
So it's, you know, I, I likedoing a lot of stuff, but, um, I
mean, sleeping and work is whatyou do most in your life, right
(15:50):
?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
That's it you follow your passion and it doesn't seem
like work right.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So is there one thing you wish our listeners knew, or
maybe they need to try whenthey come to Fort Myers Beach
and visit Mr Wave's Island Bar.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah, like I said, we're doing karaoke every day.
That's pretty much what we'reknown for.
That's great.
We have breakfast all day.
Our breakfast is pretty wellknown in the Fort Myers Beach
community.
We're open from 8 am I thinkwe're the earliest that open too
.
So if you're an early bird andyou want to grab breakfast
(16:27):
somewhere, come to Mr Wave's.
Our bucket drinks are prettyfamous.
We have pretty huge bucketswhere you can put in either our
signature drinks or whateverdrink you like.
And we also started anotherbusiness, another small business
, just a few weeks ago, which isPedaltikicom, which is a
(16:49):
14-people-powered party bike ohboy Nice which starts at Mr
Waves and ends at Mr Waves.
We offer two different tourswhich is a sightseeing tour
which goes around the island,and then a pub crawl tour which
stops at multiple bar locations.
You can grab a drink there,bring it on the bike and just
(17:10):
continue partying.
You have karaoke on that biketoo.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Party never stops, pedaltikicom.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
You can't, you can't drink all day if you don't start
in the morning.
And what better place to startin the morning.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Tell that to the people on the beach.
I mean, I, I, yeah, I prove youwrong if you come to Mr Wade's.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
And if you're at the beach, you got to spend all day
at the beach you got to startmorning and stay until the sun
goes down and the moon comes up.
So how would our listeners goabout contacting you or finding
you if they wanted to come tofort myers beach and pay you a
visit or sing some songs?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
yeah, I mean, the easiest is, uh, through facebook
, I think facebook, instagram,uh, mr waves, and um, if you
just, or you just go to our webpage, yeah, I mean, the easiest
is through Facebook, I think,facebook, instagram, mr Waves,
and if you just, or you just goto our Web page, that's Mr Waves
Island Bar.
com, and for the pedal tiki, youwould go pedal tiki.
com.
Very simple.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Very nice.
Well, daniel, it's been apleasure getting to know you.
Thank you for being such a goodneighbor, and we'll see you
down at the beach here soon.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
All right, sounds good.
Thank you Take care.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good
Neighbor Podcast, wherecommunity meets paradise.
If you love what you heard,share it with a friend and keep
the good vibes going Until nexttime.
Stay sunny, stay salty and keepbeing a good neighbor.
Also, to nominate your favoriteneighbors, local legends,
heroes or island businesses tobe on the show, go to
CaboWaboJim.
com.
That's CaboWaboJim.
(18:36):
com, or call 239-427-4100.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
Jones State Insurance USA andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
(18:58):
of paradise we all love.
Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor
Podcast, where the sun's alwaysshining and the stories are even
brighter.
Each episode we bring youcloser to the neighbors, local
legends and beachside businessesthat make Fort Myers Beach the
slice of paradise we all love.
Pull up a beach chair, grab adrink and let's meet the people
who make this island feel likehome.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
(00:21):
Jones State Insurance, usa andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
Love to Eric Tibbs from EdwardJones State Insurance, usa and
Home Well Care Services FortMyers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
of paradise we all love.
Here's your host, cabo, jimSchaller.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome Fort Myers Beach, Good Neighbors where we
offer no shade and just sunshine.
So today we have good neighborDaniel Clarkston from Mr Waves
Island Bar.
Welcome, hey, everybody, Thanksfor being on the show.
Yeah, thank you for being hereand sharing your story with our
listeners.
So let's back up your story alittle bit.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
And well, first of all, I want you to share a
little bit about, uh, mr waves,to start off with yeah, mr waves
island bar is right on timesquare, right when you come over
the bridge, the first buildingyou see.
Um, we share, um the we're ontime square, fort myers beach,
and um, we do karaoke seven daysa week, um, every night.
(01:22):
Um, currently we have karaokeon saturdays and sundays
starting at 1 pm, so, um, allday karaoke.
We do breakfast all day.
Um, we have a full kitchen forlunch and dinner and um, yeah,
we're just a nice beach hangout,uh, where people can uh, uh,
cool off from the, from the sand, grab a drink, grab a bite to
(01:45):
eat and sing whatever song theylike.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Sing their favorite song right At the top of their
lungs.
We love it.
It's all about a good time.
I love that.
So let's back up your story alittle bit.
How did you get involved in thebar business to start with?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, so basically we living on Fort Myers Beach
prior to getting in already, wewere running two small motels
and vacation rentals and thebuilding on Times Square where
we're in right now was for sale.
And obviously coming around aproperty on Fort Myers Beach, on
(02:29):
Times Square, is pretty rare,right, I mean within ownership
for 10, 20 years, sometimes theygo through the generations and
we thought how would thatpossible?
We tried to find a way out ofhow it's possible to make that
happen, to acquire the propertyand what kind of business would
(02:54):
fit there.
In regards to, yeah, obviously,pay off any debt.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right, right, you want to make money you don't
have to take on to acquire theproperty.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
The property back then had a t-shirt shop in there
and on the other side ColdStone, cold Stone wanted to stay
.
That's fine.
I was not really on the smallercommercial unit anyways, but
the bigger one where the t-shirtshop was in.
And then I mean, it's not afar-fetched thought that a, a
(03:28):
bar and restaurant would makemore sense than a t-shirt shop.
And um, that's kind of how we,how we got into all of that.
So no prior prior restaurant orbar experience, right?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
right, just jump right in and said we'll figure
it out as we go right exactly inthe end.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, the end, yeah, we, we made a, we made a
bartending me and my wife weattended a bartend, pretty
intensive bartending schoolprior to opening everything.
And I mean, in the end it'sbusiness, right, it's numbers.
You got X amount coming in andX amount going out and you got
to be sure that a little bitmore comes in than it then goes
(04:08):
out.
So and we, we kind of did thesame with the, with the hotels
and the vacation rentals, whichis also was also a business.
We didn't kind of go to schoolfor or learn, but in the end
it's it's in the end it's abusiness.
And once and we're pretty goodwith understanding numbers so we
thought why not give it a try?
(04:28):
Worst case it doesn't work, butI think it works.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So we're pretty happy .
Speaker 3 (04:39):
In November we celebrate our two-year opening
anniversary and, yeah, we'rehaving a good time with the
place and people love it.
We're widely accepted by thebeach community, people from the
mainland, fort Myers, capeCoral, et cetera.
They recognize us, they knowour name by now and that's
(05:01):
pretty cool because they're alsocoming and especially in the
kind of coming and especially,um, in the kind of realm of
karaoke bars in in the area.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
We we made a name for ourselves which is great and,
um, yeah, it works that is great, see you follow your heart,
follow your passion, and itleads you to new directions and
new, new business opportunities.
I love that you just kind offollowed it and went with it and
you know, you know you foundwhat the area really needed as
far as the business is concerned.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Well, especially after Hurricane Ian, we had to
rethink everything, right.
I mean, our building was prettymuch the only one well, the
only restaurant, whatever,however you want to call it one
of the apartments that was stillstanding.
The rest was kind of piled upright behind us and on our roof.
And then, you know, with otherpopular places on the beach gone
(05:55):
and nothing, um, nothing insight for rebuilding, etc.
Etc.
We kind of had to, had to pivot.
What kind of comp.
Because during when hurricaneian happened, we weren't open
yet right.
So we bought the building likeI think, in june or july before
hurricane ian happened.
So that was, uh, quite a bummerwith our plans.
(06:17):
But in the end, you know, onceyou're able to adjust your plans
and you stay flexible, yeah, wewere able to come up with
something, like you said, whatwe thought the community will
definitely appreciate to have,which is kind of a party bar, I
mean a restaurant.
There's multiple restaurants onthe island and we always knew
(06:40):
there will be again, and therewas a handful of party bars on
Fort Myers Beach prior to Ianand they were pretty much all
gone.
So we kind of tried to step inthat void.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
So what's been your biggest challenge in growing
from EAN to where you are now?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Well, in the beginning, the biggest challenge
was understanding all the codestuff and, you know, I mean not
necessarily permitting.
We, of course, knew it wouldneed a permitting, but then, I
believe, beginning ofmid-November, the flood
elevation changed 2022, so a fewmonths after E and so whatever
(07:26):
was not put into permittingbefore that date would not be
able to do anything and it'skind of under the restrictions.
That are the challenges rightnow, for, I mean, our neighbors,
la Ola, you know, that have tobuild up high, et cetera, et
cetera.
So, understanding all thatwhich, honestly, when we bought
it, we were not aware of that.
(07:47):
We, you know there's so muchstuff coming at the same time
with the hurricane and the floodelevation change, et cetera.
So we were, I mean, we foundout really quickly after we
purchased it and, um, yeah, wewere able to put in our
permitting, um, a day beforethat.
So we were good, nice, yeah, sothat was one challenge.
(08:07):
And then, basically, I mean,there's just, you know, business
, business costs and businessproblems every day, starting
from from crazy guests that wantto make a mess and want to
fight uh to to um, you know just.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Welcome to the bar and restaurant industry, right
yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
I think I think that's not nothing really to
mention.
Um, I mean the challenge,challenges, it's.
I think it's more on a broaderscreen, just it's.
I think it's more on a broaderscreen, broader, uh, a broader
term.
When it comes to recognition ofthe island, I think we we still
struggle with being recognizedas a fully open and operational
(08:49):
beach destination.
Um, past ian, I mean I still.
I mean it's 20, it's august 25and I still talk to people in my
bar oh my God, that's the firsttime I came to Turkey.
I'm like where do you live?
Well, southwest Cape.
I'm like it's 20 minutes, youknow.
(09:09):
I mean it's fair, people dowhatever they want.
But I feel like there's so muchto do and so much to experience
on Fort Myers Beach and I feellike there's not really yeah,
there's not really marketingabout it.
So people, I mean, obviously Ireckon Ian was pretty bad
publicity, so to say, right, andthat was in the news nationwide
(09:32):
.
But I feel like we need to pushto get the word out that we are
open and ready for business andyou're going to have a
phenomenal time on Fort MyersBeach.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, and there's a lot of good things happening
down here.
Absolutely, and part of it isand that's part of the reason
I'm doing the podcast too is toget some of that good, positive
stuff out there and say, hey,fort Myers Beach is open,
there's a lot of good thingshappening down here and some
news popping up every day, sopeople need to come back and
check it, not just the tourists,but the locals as well too.
So, talking about Fort MyersBeach beach in general, are
(10:06):
there certain things you'redoing to my, maybe embrace or be
involved with the community?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
um, well, for my speech, obviously we just had
the beach renourishment.
I mean, it says it in the namepeople come for our great beach
and our nice sand, um, I thinkwe're always in the top five, if
not top, you know, definitelyin the top 10 of best beaches in
in the us and, um, that's great, I feel like, for my speech is
very special because of the well, first of all, the mix of
(10:38):
people that that still livethere.
It's not owned by biggercorporation, it's, it's
literally fam, pretty, familybusiness orientated, um,
oriented, and that brings acertain vibe which you don't
find on the other coast ofFlorida, which you don't find
necessarily in Tampa either, orPeelwater in St Petersburg, and
(11:02):
that gives it its charm and itgives Fort Myers Beach the place
and, obviously, culinary-wise,it has everything you can look
for.
It has the beach bars, it hasthe bike bars, it has the
(11:23):
upper-scale restaurants.
I mean, it has everything youneed for a full beach, uh, beach
town destination.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
So something, something for everybody, right?
So are you from SouthwestFlorida originally.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
No, no, I came in 2017.
Um, I was born and raised inGermany.
Um went to school there mydad's American and my mom's
German but lived there.
I went to school there andalways had an American passport
since birth.
And then I met my now wife andbaby mother and my dad up to a
little three and a half monthold.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Congrats.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Thank you, thank you, that's life changing.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, no, it's fun,it's fun, we couldn't wait.
Oh yeah, no, it's fun, it's fun, we couldn't wait.
And yeah, I came over.
I met her in Frankfurt, whereI'm from, and she's a dual
citizen as well and yeah, shewas living here in Fort Myers.
So I came over here and I waslike you know, why not?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I was going to ask how did you get to Fort Myers?
But that's a good reason.
You've got to love that rightExactly.
At least she wasn't up whileyou were from Germany, but at
least I'm from Wisconsinoriginally, so it snows and it's
cold up there.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I'm not sure if she would have been that attractive
if that would have been the case.
No, I'm just joking.
But yeah, obviously you know,living in Florida it's great.
It's something you basicallyonly dream about or hear in
documentaries.
And I something you basicallyonly dream about or hear in
documentaries, and I mean it'syou know, it's all about taking
the chance.
The worst thing is it doesn'twork and then you're back at
square one, but you're therealready, so it's not like and
(12:59):
you're doing the right thingsand taking the right chances and
we love what you do.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So outside of work.
I know owning a business andyou do some other things on the
side as well too can be verydemanding of your time.
What is it you enjoy doingoutside of work?
Obviously, you have a three anda half month old, so that's a
lot of it right now.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Right.
So I mean I do like fishing,although I haven't been fishing
when fishing twice last year,which is terrible Now that I
think about it.
But I mean mean I do love mywork, you know it's it's really
uh.
So I went to university forbeing a teacher and, um, I
finished my, finished my collegein germany, um, doing that
(13:38):
being that and and I mean itwasn't a bad job or anything,
but it was a job, right, yeah,still.
So it's not like it was not mylife passion, it was a rational
decision.
You know, after my high schoolwas what path can I go with my
um, with my grades and stuff, um, and so I kind of had real
(14:00):
estate experience a little bitfrom from germany, but uh, that
really, that really came tofruition in the States and that
is what I love.
So I mean I wouldn't have calledit a hobby either, but it's
kind of washing into each other,right, it's not like I have a
whatever volleyball trainingtwice a week or something.
(14:26):
It's not going to be classifiedas a hobby maybe, but that's
not really the case.
I mean I like fishing.
I've been doing music um all mylife, which I um haven't been
doing maybe the last eight, tenyears, um, but I was also there.
I was rather on the businessside.
(14:47):
When I was in high school wegot a record deal in Germany and
stuff like that.
Then we were touring Europe.
Although it was a hobby, it'skind of professional.
It's part of your career.
That being said, if you likesomething a lot, I feel like
(15:08):
there's a way to make money withit, most of the time at least,
and professionalize it, andthat's where really the fun
comes, because you know and youhave a little bit of a story.
And I mean I love what I do, mywife loves what she does, and
you know there's always problems, but that's everywhere.
(15:29):
So in the in the end, in theend it's a it's, it's a great,
great way to live, right?
And I don't need a hobby tobalance out my job, necessarily,
because I don't hate my job.
So it's, you know, I, I likedoing a lot of stuff, but, um, I
mean, sleeping and work is whatyou do most in your life, right
(15:50):
?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
That's it you follow your passion and it doesn't seem
like work right.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So is there one thing you wish our listeners knew, or
maybe they need to try whenthey come to Fort Myers Beach
and visit Mr Wave's Island Bar.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah, like I said, we're doing karaoke every day.
That's pretty much what we'reknown for.
That's great.
We have breakfast all day.
Our breakfast is pretty wellknown in the Fort Myers Beach
community.
We're open from 8 am I thinkwe're the earliest that open too
.
So if you're an early bird andyou want to grab breakfast
(16:27):
somewhere, come to Mr Wave's.
Our bucket drinks are prettyfamous.
We have pretty huge bucketswhere you can put in either our
signature drinks or whateverdrink you like.
And we also started anotherbusiness, another small business
, just a few weeks ago, which isPedaltikicom, which is a
(16:49):
14-people-powered party bike ohboy Nice which starts at Mr
Waves and ends at Mr Waves.
We offer two different tourswhich is a sightseeing tour
which goes around the island,and then a pub crawl tour which
stops at multiple bar locations.
You can grab a drink there,bring it on the bike and just
(17:10):
continue partying.
You have karaoke on that biketoo.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Party never stops, pedaltikicom.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
You can't, you can't drink all day if you don't start
in the morning.
And what better place to startin the morning.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Tell that to the people on the beach.
I mean, I, I, yeah, I prove youwrong if you come to Mr Wade's.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
And if you're at the beach, you got to spend all day
at the beach you got to startmorning and stay until the sun
goes down and the moon comes up.
So how would our listeners goabout contacting you or finding
you if they wanted to come tofort myers beach and pay you a
visit or sing some songs?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
yeah, I mean, the easiest is, uh, through facebook
, I think facebook, instagram,uh, mr waves, and um, if you
just, or you just go to our webpage, yeah, I mean, the easiest
is through Facebook, I think,facebook, instagram, mr Waves,
and if you just, or you just goto our Web page, that's Mr Waves
Island Bar.
com, and for the pedal tiki, youwould go pedal tiki.
com.
Very simple.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Very nice.
Well, daniel, it's been apleasure getting to know you.
Thank you for being such a goodneighbor, and we'll see you
down at the beach here soon.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
All right, sounds good.
Thank you Take care.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good
Neighbor Podcast, wherecommunity meets paradise.
If you love what you heard,share it with a friend and keep
the good vibes going Until nexttime.
Stay sunny, stay salty and keepbeing a good neighbor.
Also, to nominate your favoriteneighbors, local legends,
heroes or island businesses tobe on the show, go to
CaboWaboJim.
com.
That's CaboWaboJim.
(18:36):
com, or call 239-427-4100.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
Jones State Insurance USA andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
(18:58):
of paradise we all love.
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