FMBGN-BIZ-Nervous Nellies -How A Beach Restaurant Survived Ian And Came Back Stronger

Boats gliding past the deck, live music drifting from the park, and a kitchen turning out plates that taste like a celebration—this is the bayside energy we love. We sit down with General Manager Danny Timothy of Nervous Nellie’s to trace a remarkable journey from storm damage to a full-scale comeback and two record seasons. Danny takes us inside the 15-month rebuild after Hurricane Ian, the tough calls that followed, and the surprising shift toward stronger year-round traffic on Fort Myers Beach.

You’ll hear how a two-story waterfront restaurant became a community anchor: sponsoring the Bayside Concert Series, supporting the Fort Myers Beach Art Association through Putt n’ Pub, and joining local favorites like the Mrs. Roper Crawl. Danny shares his 25-year path with the restaurant group, the decision to move from the Melbourne area, and how sister spots like Cantina Laredo and Walk-On’s helped create a backbone for recovery. This is a story about systems and people, but also about the small moments—like a pirate ship cruising by as dinner hits the table—that make the bay feel like home.

We dig into the must-try menu hits: the lobster grilled cheese at lunch, the crowd-pleasing Sailor’s Delight with shrimp, scallops, fish, and lobster sherry sauce, plus a piña colada bread pudding that seals the deal. Drinks keep it fun with Nervous Nellie’s Rum Punch and the aptly named Frozen Iguana, a melon-tinged margarita topped with gummy iguanas. If tacos are your love language, they’ve got mahi, grouper, haddock, and more ready for your Tuesday plans. Quieter than the beach but rich with views, this bayside spot doubles as a local hub and a visitor’s must-stop.

Ready to plan your visit? Find Nervous Nellie’s at nervousnellies.net and on social as Nervous Nellies FMB. If this conversation made you hungry for more local stories, tap follow, share with a neighbor, and leave a quick review to help more listeners discover the beach’s best come-back tales.

Nervous Nellie's-Ft Myers Beach
Danny Timothy
1131 1st St, Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States, 33931
(239) 999-8077
nervousnelliesfmb@gmail.com
nervousnellies.net

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