Another brewery planned
What used to be a bingo parlor on the corner of Southeast 47th Terrace and Southeast 10th Place is about to become Cape Coral’s newest craft brewery and another attraction to draw people downtown.
Bob Elardo, whose wife Joanne runs Wicked Dolphin Rum, is busy doing a $1 million refurbishing of the old Cape Coral Bingo hall at 4721 SE 10th Place to make it Big Blu Brew, a craft brewery that will feature tours, tastings and have a craft-inspired restaurant attached to it.
Elardo said the family has been making beer longer than they’ve been making rum, so it made sense to start up a brewery, especially when you consider the alternative.
“We bought the location because we heard it was going to be a funeral parlor, and we didn’t think it was a good idea for the South Cape,” Elardo said. “We were fooling around with beer recipes and thought why don’t we build a brewery in that building?”
Like Wicked Dolphin, Big Blu Brew was inspired by Florida, with the water, the clear skies and how both give you a good feeling, Elardo said, adding that the brewery will be a separate entity from the distillery.
The restaurant with feature all Florida grown and homemade offerings, and Elardo is adding a wraparound deck with a firepit.
Work is currently being done on the location, so Elardo said he doesn’t think the brewery will be open for business until mid to late season.
“We’re looking at late February if all goes well, possibly March,” Elardo said. “We’re looking to bring more people to the South Cape. We’re going to work with people to bring innovative new things here, and that’s what it’s all about.”