La Ola Surfside, a Fort Myers Beach restaurant destroyed by Hurricane Ian, will begin construction on a new two-story building in May 2027.
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —
La Ola Surfside, a beloved Fort Myers Beach restaurant that was destroyed by Hurricane Ian is set to rebuild as a two-story establishment, with construction beginning in May 2027 along Estero Boulevard.
Jim Redpath, a Fort Myers Beach resident, shared his thoughts on the restaurant’s impact on the community after the hurricane.
“La Ola saved us because it was a war zone. We had nothing to do. We came down here and we had that. We had this bar. It made us happy. It made us feel relieved. We got to be at our beach because of these people here who took the chance, put this thing here and let us sit here and enjoy ourselves, because that’s what we loved,” Redpath said.
Redpath also expressed his support for the new plans, saying, “The bigger the better, as long as Tom and Beth are happy, I’m happy.”
The new building will feature a two-story octagon-shaped tiki bar as its centerpiece. The second floor will offer panoramic views of downtown and the ocean, while the first floor will include an open bar and seating area.
Laura Zienciuk, another Fort Myers Beach resident, shared her excitement about the upcoming changes.
“I’m super excited. The vibe here and the people here. This is why we come to the beach and we love all the people here. So anything to keep the people coming and happy and the views, I’m excited about,” Zienciuk said.
La Ola Surfside is currently operating under the Times Square mural, with the goal of opening the new building in early 2028.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
Dining and Cooking