We’re seeing double in downtown Fort Myers.
And in this case, it’s a very good thing.
Although less than 2 months old, it already feels like an old friend.
On April 11, Point Ybel Brewing opened a new location off First Street in the Fortiner Building. It’s next to Triton Cay and behind the Publix Super Market at First Street Village, which backs up to McGregor Boulevard.
New spot, same everything else
It has all the good things from the original San Carlos Boulevard location plunked down in a lighter, brighter space.
And to our delight, Chocolattes is just across the hall, similar to what’s in Iona, where the brewery and coffee shop are a few doors down in Kelly Crossing.
“Chocolattes was approached (by the landlord) first,” Point Ybel’s owner and brewer Jordan Weisberg said. “They wanted to put a coffee shop in there. When (the landlord) wanted a brewery, Chocolattes said, ‘Look no further.’ They’ve been a great neighbor to have.”
Expansion had been on Weisberg’s mind for a while.
“We had been looking downtown for about four years,” he said. “So when this opportunity came up, we grabbed it. It’s exactly what we wanted, in an area we wanted. When the parking lot is done, we’ll get food trucks in. It’ll be even better than it is now.”
And it’s already pretty awesome.
Even though it’s only been open since April 11, it already feels like an old friend.
Same beer, same faces at Point Ybel downtown
With 17 taps, you’ll find all the award-winning beers Point Ybel is known for — including Sanibel Light, Snook Bite IPA, Sanibel Red and (our favorite) The Full Breakfast stout.
Familiar faces are serving them all up, too.
“It’s the same beer, just as fresh as (the first) location,” said Weisberg, who started as a home brewer 15 years ago in Tampa. “We have the same great staff at both locations. The same great events… We want to build the same community downtown that we have (in south Fort Myers).”
And that’s a big part of Point Ybel.
The Iona location has a “Cheers” feel to it, Weisberg said.
“At any given point, I’ll know almost everyone there,” he said. “It’s a lot of people’s firsts ― first place they had an IPA, or a craft beer in general. I met my wife there. Her dad did all our artwork. Families have grown up there. It’s where we met all our friends. It’s a cool thing to have a place that brought us all together.”
And the same is happening at the downtown spot already.
“Quite a few of our old regulars wished we were closer to them in downtown,” Weisberg said. “Now every other day, we’re seeing them at the new location. We’re getting our old regulars back.”
While the vibes and nautical themes of the two locations are the same, they look quite different.
At the original location, which opened in 2013, you’ll find heavy benches, dark wood and a pub-y aesthetic that Weisberg describes as “warm and cheesy.”
Downtown is modern, new and brass-y, with natural light flooding in from three sides.
“You’re in the ship in one, and on the top deck in the other,” Weisberg said. “But both feel great.”
The same full slate of events is scheduled for both spaces — from live music and yoga to trivia and music bingo.
Chocolattes is right next door, again
And then there’s Chocolattes, which brought its in-house roasted, fresh-brewed goodness to downtown in January.
In addition to that divine coffee, it offers crepes, grilled cheeses (from simply cheese to caprese open-faced), bagels and bagel sandwiches, toasts (including Fluffernutter and PB & banana!), flatbreads and more.
“You can order food and walk right over here for a beer,” Weisberg said.
Like Point Ybel next door, Chocolattes is an inviting space with tons of natural light. And as in its original location, there’s a quiet, more intimate (and oh so Instagramable) Backyard space which can be reserved for private events.
Both businesses also share a widely comfortable porch.
And there’s plenty of free parking in the area, including in the parking garage just down Altamont Avenue.
“This is a new chapter for us,” Weisberg said. “We’re excited for it… I love everything we’re doing here.”
And so do we.
Point Ybel Brewing, 2180 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers; find the original location at 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Suite 4, Fort Myers; (239) 603-6565; pointybelbrew.com and on Facebook
For more on Chocolattes, go to chocolattescoffee.com or follow on Facebook
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: New brewery right at home in downtown Fort Myers neighborhood
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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