Thousands attend Taste of NFM at Shell Factory
The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce chose a Chamber of Commerce day to hold one of its biggest events of the year.
The second annual Taste of North Fort Myers brought thousands of people to the Shell Factory, and they were greeted with some of the best food in the area, as well as summerlike conditions.
A dozen restaurants, along with a dozen more area businesses, lined the parking lot as visitors had the opportunity to sample everything from pizza, to sandwiches to smoothies to scallops.
“We’re trying to bring attention to restaurants and other businesses here. We have a big crowd, the weather is great and we’re going to have a successful event,” said Doug Dailey, honorary mayor of North Fort Myers.
Making things easier this year was the fact there were no tickets, which made things throublesome for patrons and restaurants the first time around.
This was great news to Steve Rodriguez of Cape Coral, who wasted no time trying out the food, enjoying a rueben sandwich from Jersee’s Sports Cafe with his fiancee, Courtney Alt.
“This is the best rueben I’ve tasted in a long time. I’ve already had the pulled pork sandwich somewhere else,” Rodriguez said. “We just saw something by the side of the street and came.”
It was also great news to Chamber executive director Chris Jackson, who couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into something, but not before he made sure everything was in proper order.
“We are thrilled to death by the turnout even in the early hours. Our vendors and restaurants are thrilled and the patrons are happy with the varieties of food and business expo vendors,” Jackson said. “We’ve made it a little smaller for crowd control and that’s working well.”
Edible Arrangements was the title sponsor, and since it was hot and anything involving chocolate would likely melt, they decided to go the smoothie route.
“We like making life a little sweeter with healthy alternatives. It’s amazing what words can’t express our arrangements do for people,” said John Kubicek, vice president of operations of the four stores in the area. “Giving back to the community is what you do and get out there.”
Scott Marchetti, owner of Jersey’s Sports Cafe, was more than happy to put a stake down at the Shell Factory after missing the event last year. He passed out can sleeves and menus as a way to entice people to come to its brick-and-mortar location in the future.
“We did the chili cook-off and Gumbofest, and it was more appealing to do it this year with cash as opposed to tickets,” Marchetti said. “It beats having to sit around for them to count the tickets and give you your share.”
The event also featured the Calendar Girls, who will appear on “America’s Got Talent” in May, the musical stylings of Mike Glean, and BOB-FM made an appearance. There were also raffles and giveaways, free games for the kids, and a petting zoo.
Prizes were also awarded for the best restaurant overall, as well as the sweetest treat.
There was also a business expo, where everyone from chiropractors to people running for public office set up shop.
All in all, it was another successful event for the Shell Factory and the Chamber.
“The Chamber has done a great job promoting this event. It’s Chamber of Commerce weather and we’re happy to have them and all the new people here,” said Shell Factory co-owner Pam Cronin. “There is a lot to do for the kids. It’s an exciting day.”