Fort Myers Brewing Company has big plans on tap as the first microbrewery in Lee County announces plans for expansion. Today, Fort Myers Brewing Company Founders and Co-owners Rob and Jen Whyte received unanimous approval from the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to purchase just over 22 acres of property from the Lee County Port Authority referred to as the Commerce Lakes Drive Parcel.
Adjacent to the brewery’s current location in the Gateway community of Fort Myers, the new space will be comprised of both commerce and community, featuring a multi-purpose 40,000-square-foot facility with malt beverage manufacturing and packaging, a large tasting hall, private event space, outdoor beer garden, plenty of parking and lots of green space.
“We are thrilled to share our plans to bring the community together in new and creative ways through this destination brewery,” said Jen Whyte, co-owner of Fort Myers Brewing Company. “Our grand lawn will provide a sizeable gathering place and a large tasting hall that will greatly expand the number of guests we can serve and private events we can accommodate. We will continue to bring in local musicians and food trucks, and our new space will provide an enhanced venue to showcase the talent, vibrancy and hospitality that Fort Myers has to offer our locals as well as visitors to our region.”
“We’re taking all the features that our regulars have come to love and building upon those experiences, so Fort Myers Brewing Company will still have that same friendly and familiar vibe, now with even more offerings for our community to enjoy,” said co-owner Rob Whyte. “One of the new features is the addition of flex-work spaces, and as entrepreneurs, we are looking forward to offering a place where business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs can collaborate and be inspired in a high-tech, yet casual and creative environment.”
Fort Myers Brewing opened in 2013 with 1,500 square feet and now occupies just under 20,000 square feet. In addition to expanding its capacity for community events, the new facility will also allow the company to streamline and build operations.
“This expansion has been in the works for over two and a half years as local real estate agents courted us and showed us multiple properties, however, we remained committed to doing everything possible to stay and continue to grow our business in Gateway,” added Jen Whyte. “It’s a dream come true for us to expand our locally grown brewing operations, and this opportunity is all due to our loyal friends, neighbors and community who have supported us from day one!”
The closing on the property is expected to be completed within the next 60 days.
About Fort Myers Brewing Company
Established in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and continues to lead Southwest Florida’s surging craft beer movement. Founded by Rob and Jen Whyte, Fort Myers Brewing carries a signature line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts and IPAs are winners of multiple prestigious awards, including golds at the Best Florida Beer Competition and a silver at the 2018 World Beer Cup. Fort Myers Brewing was named “Best Large Brewery in Florida” in 2016. The brewery is located at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers. For more information, visit FMbrew.com or call 239-313-6576.
