Following Hurricane Ian, many businesses on Sanibel and Captiva temporarily shut their doors as the island and its residents recover from the damage. But day by day, more restaurants, shops and other businesses are welcoming in customers — proving the resilience of the island communities and their unique cultures.
If you find yourself on the islands, make sure to support some of the below businesses, whose doors are now open again:
The Sanibel office, on November 28, began offering full banking services from 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, out of its temporary on-site operation located in a trailer in its parking lot, at 1699 Periwinkle Way at Casa Ybel Road. Safe deposit box access is available during normal business hours. ATM is available 24 hours.
The Captiva office, located next to the Captiva Post Office, is open from 9am to 2pm, Monday through Friday. The office is closed from 12pm to 12:30pm for lunch. ATM is available 24 hours.
Beginning December 6, Cielo opened its doors to family and friends on Sanibel, from 11am to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Come for lunch 11am to 3pm, happy hour 4:30pm to 6pm, or dinner 4pm to 6pm. Cielo is serving a limited menu and currently cannot take reservations. Cielo’s new sign says “SAN-CAP STRONG.”
Unique, local-artist created jewelry, pottery, wearable art, decorative and whimsical art can be purchased in the lobby of the BIG ARTS center on Dunlop Road, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 3pm. Purchases support BIG ARTS which, due to the storm, had to cancel its previously scheduled 2023 performing arts season.
Stop in to the Jerry’s Shopping Center for some apparel at Footloose H20 Outfitters. The store is now open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 3pm until December 23. After that, the store is expecting to open from 9am to 5pm. Everything in the store is 50% off, excluding a few items.
Some of Gramma Dot’s specialties are now available for lunch or an earlier dinner. Gramma Dot’s has set up a food truck on the Gramma Dot’s paved lot at the Sanibel Marina, and it is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday, 10am to 2pm.
Need some help keeping your business or home safe? Give a call to the
Island Locksmith, the experts in keeping your belongings safe since 1976. You can reach them at 239-472-2394 or visit their office on Periwinkle Way.
Jerry's Foods was one of the first businesses to welcome back customers when it opened its doors on Oct. 25, just 27 days after the storm. Stop in for some groceries and home necessities, or grab a bite at the Jerry's Cafe. You can visit the store any day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or the deli and restaurant from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This baby and children’s clothing and accessory store in the Jerry’s Shopping Center is currently open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 4pm. Everything in the store is 20% off for now.
Tween Waters Inn. Photo courtesy of Tween Waters Inn on Facebook.
The Old Captiva House restaurant at the ‘Tween Waters Inn is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Old Captiva House will be closed in observance of Christmas 12/24 and 12/25. The Hideway Bar at Old Captiva House remains a top-choice water hole to enjoy at the Inn’s Serenity Pool.
Photo courtesy of Sanibel Deli.
On November 30, Sanibel Deli celebrated a post-hurricane reopening. Deli owner Jeff Weigel is welcoming the lunch crowd of friends, regulars, and city officials who are steadily streaming in each day to grab Reubens, muffins and smoothies.
The Sanibel Island Golf Club opened the first nine holes of its golf course to members on November 17. Members can make a reservation and there are now some golf carts available to rent.
The Sanibel Grill is now open Mondays, Wednesday through Sundays, 12pm to 8pm. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
On November 30, The Island Store celebrated a post-hurricane reopening. The owners of Bailey’s General Store and a current tenant,partnered together this past year to rebuild The Island Store with the same charm shoppers have enjoyed since Ding Darling first opened it as a general store in the early 1900s. With the help of the historical preservation committee, The Island Store was rebuilt with as much adherence to the original historical building as possible.
Not only do customers love the fresh frozen custard at The Shack, they also love its cool air conditioning, ceiling fans, island music, garden patio, and wrap-around porch. A few iguanas and turtles enjoy the shade at The Shack too. The Shack is located 1/4 mile west on Periwinkle from the Sanibel Causeway. Current hours are Mondays, 11am to 4pm, Fridays/Saturdays, 11am to 8pm. Closed on Sundays.
Traders Restaurant started serving customers delicious, coastal-inspired dishes when it reopened on Nov. 22. Diners can enjoy lunch or dinner at the restaurant on Periwinkle Way Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The music bar will stay open until 8 p.m. Customers can also peruse the gift shop to find the perfect holiday presents!
Whitney’s Bait & Tackle and its sister store, Sanibel Fly Outfitters, are working through the motions of rebuilding. While it will take time, the team there is eager to serve the Islands throughout the process. The Bait shop at 1554 Periwinkle is open daily with what merchandise remains, much of it on sale. The team there says they’d love to see residents, “if even just to say hi!”
If your business is open and you would like to be included in our list, please send an email to [email protected]
