JOE’S DOCKSIDE / COURTESY PHOTO

Long before the name Joe’s Dockside Marina appeared along San Carlos Boulevard, the waterfront property served as one of the primary gateways into Fort Myers Beach’s boating and charter culture.

Formerly operating as Getaway Marina, the site built its reputation around direct access to Gulf waters, fishing excursions, boat rentals and a steady stream of visitors heading toward Estero Island. The marina, located just before the Matanzas Pass Bridge, has long been a familiar stop for both tourists and locals looking to experience Southwest Florida from the water.

Now, the dockside location is entering a new chapter.

Joe’s Dockside’s owners are planning a major redevelopment project that will transform the property into a larger waterfront destination centered on boating culture, entertainment, and tourism. Plans include a two-story expansion featuring an upstairs sports bar, additional gathering space and expanded visibility for charter operators and tour businesses working out of the marina.

Joe’s Dockside rendering. -JOE’S DOCKSIDE / COURTESY IMAGE

The newly added space will feature 10 televisions lining the center of the room, along with two large screens at each end, to create a game-day atmosphere overlooking the waterfront.

For co-owner Joe May, his eyes never lost sight of the property or the opportunities it could create.

“I love the property and I saw great potential,” May said. “I kept telling myself this could be something really good, a local place to hang out, where people can come, enjoy and get out on the water.”

In 2025, May purchased the marina with Trevor Daley, a former National Hockey League player and two-time Stanley Cup champion.

Daley played 16 seasons with the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, winning Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017. After his NHL retirement, Daley briefly played for the Florida Everblades during the 2021-2022 season.

The duo envisions the property as more than a traditional marina environment.

Inspired by life on the water

Boating has shaped much of May’s life throughout Florida. He credits these experiences for shaping and influencing the vision behind Joe’s Dockside.

Frequent trips between waterfront destinations exposed him to a variety of marina environments, boating communities and dockside gathering spaces.

The open-air seating area at Joe’s Dockside Marina on Fort Myers Beach is expected to undergo a major renovation as part of the marina’s future expansion plans. -TYLER GIBSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY

“When are you going to get an opportunity to buy a piece of property, a mile from your house, where you can develop and create your own marina with your own vibe and environment?” May asked.

“One of the things I’ve always enjoyed is a marina that has an aspect of being a working marina — a living, breathing entity.”

Part of the marina’s identity, May said, will also center around preserving elements of Old Florida boating culture. Owners recently brought in local stone crabbers to help maintain ties to the area’s commercial fishing roots while adding to the marina’s working-waterfront atmosphere.

“Bringing in the stone crabbers was something I really wanted because it keeps a place like this authentic,” May said. “It keeps it real.”

Fresh stone crab claws are also expected to become a featured offering at the marina, giving visitors access to locally sourced seafood.

The marina’s evolution also comes as Fort Myers Beach continues to rebuild and redefine itself following Hurricane Ian. Like many waterfront businesses, the property faced the challenge of recovery while adapting to a changing tourism landscape.

The property currently offers sunset and dolphin tours, fishing charters and boating access while also serving as a gathering point for both visitors and local boaters. The marina includes a tiki-style social area, dockside amenities and bait-and-tackle services.

Sports, tourism and waterfront culture

Daley said the vision for Joe’s Dockside extends beyond creating a marina. Instead, the pair hopes to create a waterfront destination that attracts both tourists and locals while boosting visibility for charter captains and boating businesses operating from the docks.

“It’s great that we’re getting to do something and bring something to the community, but it’s good to see everybody else coming back too,” Daley said.

Its location along one of the busiest corridors entering Fort Myers Beach positions the marina as one of the first waterfront destinations visitors encounter before crossing onto the island. Owners believe that visibility creates opportunities not only for tourism growth, but also for charter operators and small businesses tied to the boating industry.

Joe’s Dockside Marina blends Old Florida waterfront charm with a laid-back gathering space for boaters and visitors. -TYLER GIBSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Boats dock along the marina at Joe’s Dockside on Fort Myers Beach. -TYLER GIBSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The sports-bar concept also reflects Daley’s professional sports background while creating an entertainment-driven environment that complements the marina’s boating atmosphere.

“I’m grateful I got to play hockey for a living, retire and find something else to be passionate about. Hockey requires a lot of passion, time and effort, and this gives me that same opportunity to stay active and invested in something I love,” Daley said.

“I moved to Florida because I wanted to be on the water and enjoy everything Southwest Florida represents, so being able to do that through this project is really exciting.”

The layouts for Joe’s Dockside expansion. -JOE’S DOCKSIDE / COURTESY IMAGE

Rather than operating as a traditional full-service restaurant, the concept will focus primarily on a bar atmosphere complemented by rotating food trucks and vendors.

The redevelopment also serves as an investment in the broader boating economy of Fort Myers Beach. The expansion aims to increase visibility for charter operators, strengthen tourism activity, and continue the waterfront revitalization underway throughout the area.

“A lot of people come here on vacation wanting to get out on the water, and I think that’s where the captains and charter services are really going to benefit from the increased traffic and visibility,” Daley said.

“They do a great job marketing themselves and bringing people in, and now when customers get off the boat, they’ll have a place where they can stick around, hang out and enjoy the atmosphere afterward too.”

Once construction begins, marina operations will temporarily relocate to a tented setup on the north side of the property while renovations are underway. The remodel is expected to take approximately five to six months to complete.

Looking toward the future

Every morning, charter boats leave the docks in pursuit of tarpon, snapper and Gulf Coast sunrises. Owners hope the marina’s next phase will capture that same energy while creating a destination that appeals to both locals and visitors.

Daley said the long-term goal is to create a place where entertainment, boating and community all intersect while continuing to celebrate the culture that has long defined Fort Myers Beach’s waterfront.

“I think it’s kind of a reflection of who Joe and I are. That’s the vibe we want to bring. We love enjoying time with people, watching sports and being around others, and we want people to enjoy it just as much as we enjoy being here,” Daley said.

New expansion plans at Joe’s Dockside plan to help increase visibility and traffic to local charter and boating activity. -TYLER GIBSON / FLORIDA WEEKLY

“We spend more time here than anywhere else, so it’s really what we’re looking for. We just want people to come in, enjoy it and love it as much as we do.”

Daley said the goal is to create a place where both locals and visitors can experience the waterfront lifestyle, whether they’re heading out on a charter, watching a game upstairs or simply enjoying time by the marina.

“We just want people to enjoy themselves and experience what Southwest Florida is all about,” he said. “Because you’re not going to leave unhappy.”

Joe’s Dockside Marina is located at 18400 San Carlos Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach. For more information or to stay up to date on project efforts, visit www.joesdocksidemarina.com or follow their Instagram at @joesdockside.

JOE’S DOCKSIDE / COURTESY IMAGE