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

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

[e-mail]

thebeachbarfmb.com

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Episode Transcript

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.
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 to another
episode of the Fort Myers BeachGood Neighbor podcast.
Today we have good neighborMatt Faller from the Beach Bar.
Welcome.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Hey, thanks for having me on and you're at the
Beach Bar.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Right, that's right, all righty, absolutely.
And you were one of the firstbusinesses from Ian to recently
reopen, so congrats on that.
But for those of thoselisteners that aren't familiar
with what you do, why don't youshare a little bit about the
beach bar?

Speaker 3 (01:06):
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 inthe sand.
It's a simple, simple thinghere.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
You got to love it.
You got to love it.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
Keep it simple right, that's it, keep it.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
So let's back up your story a little bit.
How'd you get involved in allthis?

Speaker 3 (01:24):
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 fewmonths there.
Yep, reopened afterwards inSeptember and then crushed it
for about two years untilHurricane Ian Right, and then we
kept the business going.
We were only shut down for 97days.
We're proud of that fact.

(01:44):
We and then we kept thebusiness going.
We were only shut down for 97days.
We're proud of that fact.
We had a trailer on the oldproperty here, the old slab
rather Yep, yep, and we kept thebusiness alive, while Greg
decided to rebuild Right, andthat's a challenge in itself.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
I'm talking about challenges.
I mean, obviously, working atthe beach is kind of like a
dream job, right.
It's like who doesn't like thisview?
But we all have storms that weencounter, you know whether
negative, but there's somepositive that comes out of it.
Is there something that cameout of it that you can look back
at now and say you know what wemade it through.
We're finally moving forward.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
The biggest silver lining I found immediately after
Ian was this community.
Everybody from all over thecountry, all the world, lives
here and we all came together,we all became family almost
throughout these last two and ahalf years and then that's the
big thing.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
It is about community , and when something like that
happens, everybody comestogether.
It doesn't matter where you are, who you are, what you believe
in, everybody kind of helps comesupport each other.
And that's the important part,and that's what we're trying to
do here is, you know, bringpeople together and be positive
about it absolutely that's.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
That's one of our mantras here at the Beach Bar.
You know walk in as friends,dance out as family.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
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 thatyou guys are doing or have done
to help give back to thecommunity?

Speaker 3 (02:59):
So so we're going to be running our September Blues
Bash.
We do a school supply driveevery year.
Previously it was for the beachschool, we'll be going towards
Harlem Heights this year, okay.
And then in our December BluesBash we're running Tours for
Tots with the United StatesMarines.
So every at least once aquarter, if not once a month, we
try to do some sort offundraiser here.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
I love it.
I love it, you know.
And again, it's about givingback to the community and as it
gets busier, it only helps usmore and more.
I mean, it's slow time rightnow, so trying to get through
the next month is going to be alittle tough, but we'll get
there, we'll get through.
So are you from SouthwestFlorida originally?

Speaker 3 (03:33):
Originally I'm from Long Island, new York.

Speaker 2 (03:34):
Wow, what brought you down here?

Speaker 3 (03:39):
So Anthony and I were co-managers here.
We'd always talked about goingto the beach after school and he
had gotten a job at FGCU as aprofessor.
So I moved down, I got the jobat the beach bar and then I was
working at Hertz Arena for theFlorida Everblades COVID
happened.

Speaker 1 (03:54):
That crushed those dreams right away.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
And then that was when Greg gave us the
opportunity to take over asmanagers here at the bar.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
Very nice, very nice.
And who doesn't like that?
You?

Speaker 3 (04:03):
know, working outside with the guys or working
outside at the beach.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Absolutely, that's a little better.
So I know running a businesscan be very demanding of your
time, especially when you knowyou've got a small staff.
What do you do, what do youenjoy doing outside of work when
you do get a moment of free?

Speaker 3 (04:20):
time.
Like most people, I love theisland 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 (04:30):
Getting outside, enjoying the weather and that's
why we live here.
And you know, enjoying thisparadise that we are.
Break a sweat, which I like,but then it's been clear.
I mean it's been gorgeousrecently.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
It's been crazy, I'm clear.
Fishing's been pretty good thissummer.

Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, do you like going out fishing?
Quite a bit Love it, love it.
There you go, I won't ask youyour favorite spots, because
we're going to share that Like amagician, never Down here,
snook A lot of Snook.
I got my first harp in thespring so that was a lot of fun.

Speaker 3 (04:58):
Nice, very good.
Is there one thing you wish ourlisteners knew about the Beach
Bar that maybe they're not toofamiliar with?
Just come on in.
It's a very inviting place.
All walks of life, families arewelcome, everybody's welcome
here.
That's really what we want todrive home.
Walking with friends, dancingwith family, cold beer, live

(05:20):
music, toes in the sand that'sreally what we want to drive
home.
Like I said, walk in as friendsdance at as family Cold beer,
live music, toes in the sand.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
That's what we try to encompass here, and you've got
live music when season kicks inevery day right.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
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 (05:33):
Nice.
So it's a great atmosphereWatch the sunset, Grab some
drinks, enjoy the live musicit's a great thing.
So obviously we're right behindthe goods, but how would our
listeners go about contactingyou if they wanted to learn more
or check you out before theycame to visit?

Speaker 3 (05:49):
So Facebook and Instagram are our best things.
You can email us atiStreetBeachBrew, but Facebook
and Instagram are really how wecommunicate with the community
here.
Very nice, very nice.
FMB, the Beach Bar.

Speaker 2 (05:59):
That's it.
That's it.
Any last words for our?

Speaker 3 (06:02):
listeners.
Well, thanks for having me on,jim, welcome, and let's have
some fun here on this beautifulisland.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
Cheers, Matt.
It's been a pleasure getting toknow you.
Thank you for being such a goodneighbor.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
And we'll see you out here on the beach.
Real soon.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Looking forward, take care.

Speaker 1 (06:18):
Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good
Neighbor Podcast, wherecommunity meets paradise.
If you loved 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.

(06:38):
com.
Or call two, three, nine, four,two, seven, four, one, zero,
zero.
We want to send out some Islandlove to Eric tips 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

(07:00):
of paradise we all.