Popular waterfront Fort Myers Beach bar reopens 7 months after Hurricane Ian

More than seven months after Hurricane Ian ravaged Fort Myers Beach, Petey’s Upper Deck at Matanzas on the Bay has reopened.

“The minute we put the sign up saying we were open we instantly had boaters come for lunch,” said Doug Speirn-Smith, who co-owns the restaurant and bar with his wife, Christy. “We had a soft opening Monday (May 1) and it was jammed. All locals. It was gratifying to see.”

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As the name implies, Petey’s is on the upper deck of Matanzas on the Bay, a waterfront restaurant and patio overlooking Matanzas Pass. Matanzas Inn Resort is also part of the complex. The Speirn-Smiths have been part of the ownership group since 1984 before becoming sole owners in 2012.

The entire property was affected by Ian.

“The buildings are all different heights,” said Speirn-Smith, “but everything had water. Most of the resort’s buildings weren’t significantly impaired.”

Damage from Hurricane Ian

The restaurant on the lower level had the most damage.

“It dates back to the ‘50s,” Speirn-Smith said. “We had done two or three remodels in the past, but this is the biggest makeover we’ve ever had to do. Upper Deck was part of the last remodeling project and it remained pretty much intact.”

About 90 percent of the hotel is open and all new, according to Speirn-Smith. Petey’s and the patio downstairs have been freshened up and redone.

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The restaurant below will take some time though.

“We are looking for the best solution for that,” Speirn-Smith said. “It’s a bigger job. It’ll be a while between the design, permits, construction. We aren’t close to getting started. Maybe it will be done in November of 2024 if we are lucky.”

Dave's Dockside Pizza and more

In the meantime, Petey’s is back with a limited menu from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

“We have a learning curve since we are working out of temporary kitchens,” Speirn-Smith said. “We don’t need to rush into things. It’s a pizza-oriented menu but we have some of our staples too.”

Returning customers will be happy to know that the popular pizza ― Dave’s Dockside Pizza ― is, “still the same with lots of good choices,” Speirn-Smith said. “It’s a different oven, but the same kind of oven.”

Some of the pizza options include the Big Kahuna (with ham, pineapple and mozzarella), shrimp scampi, barbecue chicken and a super white with mozzarella, ricotta, green pepper, red onion, mushrooms, tomato and black olives. They come in 9 or 14 inches.

Appetizers ― from smoked fish dip to shrimp & scallop ceviche ―  and salads round out the menu.

The full bar is serving up all your favorite cocktails. Live music is expected to be added at some point.

“We will see how it goes this summer,” Speirn-Smith said. “The staff is great. Happy to be back. There are lots of smiling faces.”

What's open on Fort Myers Beach

That staff has mostly returned from Petey’s and the PierSide Grill & Famous Blowfish Bar, which the Speirn-Smiths also own. The latter was located next to the pier at Times Square on Fort Myers Beach.

“There was no other place like the PierSide,” Speirn-Smith said of the hurricane-demolished restaurant. “In the near future, Fort Myers Beach will come back. But there’s only so much to take on right now. We are focusing on Matanzas.”

Speirn-Smith said he’s already seeing progress on Fort Myers Beach.

“The downtown core is home to Wahoo Willie’s, Snug Harbor (Waterfront Restaurant), Yucatan Beach Stand and Lighthouse (Tiki Bar & Grill),” he said. “All are open. All are within walking distance. Now we are open. It’s starting to feel like old downtown. Harbour House is fully open. The beach is pretty cleaned up. In some ways it sort of looks the same. We are just so happy to be open.”

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Now all it needs is visitors.

“All of the locals really appreciate the support of the whole community,” Speirn-Smith said. “Anyone who can come out and frequent a business is greatly appreciated right now.”

Petey's Upper Deck at Matanzas on the Bay, 416 Crescent St., Fort Myers Beach; open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; (239) 463-3838; matanzasonthebay.com; on Facebook and Instagram

Robyn George is a community content editor and food writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send scoops and news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Petey’s Upper Deck at Matanzas on the Bay reopens on Fort Myers Beach