Restaurant news: Shift Coffee Bar to open Fort Myers location

A new coffee bar, a brewery partnership and one seriously sweet accolade — here’s your weekly helping of restaurant news from around Fort Myers. 

Shift Coffee Bar to open in West End at City Walk

A month after Shift Coffee’s fourth anniversary, owner Donie Schepp will once again have a physical space for his coffee bar. 

Schepp hopes for a mid-November opening in the new West End at City Walk in downtown Fort Myers, where guests can snag espresso, cold brew, teas and light pastries. It’s a similar setup to Shift’s former arrangement with Chico’s, wherein the coffee company resides in the lobby, this time at 2250 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 

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This coffee bar, which is open to the public, did not come without a challenge. Schepp left the Chico’s space during the pandemic expecting to return. When that didn’t pan out, he considered a downtown Fort Myers space. Months into that deal, it fell apart. 

But then he toured through this new space, and a new partnership began. 

“On a personal level, it was extremely difficult to be vulnerable again,” Schepp said. “I do believe that fell through for a reason and I'm glad I was patient enough to see, through that, there was better opportunity for us.” 

And, in some way, it’s a homecoming: When Shift started, Schepp said, it was in a building across the street. 

“I just want to see people’s faces again,” Schepp said. “I miss serving people and making their day.”

For more information, visit shiftcoffeebar.com. 

Little bites

Chops City Grill reopens after renovations 

After a four-month, $1 million renovation, Chops City Grill is once again open in Bonita Springs. 

The new decor mirrors the interior of its sister restaurant on Fifth Avenue South in Naples with crushed black velvet, deep purples and silver accents, according to a news release. 

Skip Quillen, who owns Chops in addition to Pazzo! Cucina Italiana and Yabba Island Grill, said in the release it was time for something new.

“We renovated the entire steakhouse interior with spectacular results,” he said. 

Part of those renovations include a revamped and new menu from chefs Rafelo Elisea and Francis Pinscher, the release notes, that includes 24 cuts of USDA prime beef and domestic Wagyu steaks. 

For reservations or information, call 239-992-4677 or visit chopsbonita.com. 

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Oak and Stone partners with Big Storm Brewing 

Oak and Stone partnered with Big Storm Brewing for their own in-house Snowbird pilsner. 

“We are partners with all local craft breweries,” said Colby Lengel, Oak and Stone’s director of marketing. “Without them, there isn’t us.” 

The American tavern chain founded in Sarasota worked with the brewer, which has a Cape Coral location, to create what Lengel said is a “perfectly balanced and bright golden example of a German-style Pilsner.” 

They launched the brew in April with plans for it to stick around. 

“It definitely complements our pizza and our dough that we handcraft in-house, which in the end, creates a perfect pair.” 

For more information, visit bigstormbrewery.com or oakandstone.com.

Cake sculptor celebrates honors 

Babcock Ranch resident, artist and cake sculptor Janette Dulaney placed third in the Ultimate Sugar Show competition. 

The show, a baking, sugar and sweets art show out of Georgia, ran Sept. 24-26. At the event, Dulaney snagged third for her entirely edible cake titled “Love Has No Bounds,” which depicts a tiger, paw outstretched with an owl alighting to build a nest for the baby in a message of motherly love, according to a news release. She entered it in the master level sculpting competition. 

For more information, visit soulbyjanettedulaney.com.

Kearns Restaurant Group to fundraise for breast cancer awareness

The Kearns Restaurant Group — which includes Izzy’s Fish & Oyster Bar and Cabos Cantina in downtown Fort Myers — is fundraising throughout October for breast cancer awareness.

All Kearns restaurants will offer limited edition gear and discounted Michelob Ultras beverages, with 50% of proceeds to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation. 

For more, visit krgdining.com. 

Andrew Atkins writes about food and features for the Naples Daily News. Contact him via email at andrew.atkins@naplesnews.com. To support work like Andrew's, please consider subscribing: https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/