Fort Myers Beach can feel like a postcard, but the real story lives behind the counters, in the leases, and in the people who decide to rebuild anyway. We talk with Carrie from Leanis Casual and Swimwear on the south end about what it means for a small island business to reach a 50-year milestone and why that history is tied to Santini Plaza and the bigger comeback of the community.

Carrie shares what visitors often don’t see: the grit it takes to reopen after Hurricane Ian, the challenge of seasonality, and the “big city problems” a small town suddenly has to solve. We also dig into the emotional side of recovery. For many families, Leonis isn’t just a place to buy women’s swimwear or resort clothing, it’s a memory marker. People remember shopping there with grandma, then returning years later as the grandparents themselves. That continuity matters when so much else has changed.

We also get practical about planning a visit. We cover how the south end is working to improve communication, where to look for an events calendar, and what’s returning around the island from farmers markets to restaurants to marina services like gas and bait. If you want a grounded, local look at Fort Myers Beach recovery, small business resilience, and what’s actually happening at Santini Plaza, this conversation is for you.

If you enjoyed this, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves the island, and leave us a quick review so more people can find the south-end story.

Leanis Casual and Swimwear
Carrie Smith
7205 Estero Blvd, Suite 721, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 463-2838
yourfriend@leanis.com
leanis.com

Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor
To Nominate Someone to be Featured
Or
To Subscribe to the Newsletter
CLICK HERE
https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/