/Fort Myers Beach News




Sneak preview held over the weekend ahead of Friday’s grand opening

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The Whale was completely rebuilt after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Mike and Dawn Miller, co-owners of The Whale, stand on the third floor of the Fort Myers Beach restaurant, overlooking Estero Boulevard. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Mike and Dawn Miller, co-owners of The Whale, stand on the third floor of the Fort Myers Beach restaurant, overlooking Estero Boulevard. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Mike and Dawn Miller, who operate The Whale, also started the Fort Myers Beach business organization What’s Up FMB?

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The third floor of The Whale is an architectural marvel. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The third floor of The Whale is an architectural marvel. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Dan and Mike Miller, co-owners of The Whale, sit atop the third-floor bar underneath the beams of the restaurant’s intricate architectural design. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Dan and Mike Miller, co-owners of The Whale, sit atop the third-floor bar underneath the beams of the restaurant’s intricate architectural design. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The third floor of The Whale features a 100-inch television set to capture all of the major sporting events. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The top ceiling of The Whale,.

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The look at the top of the third floor of The Whale.

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Impressive murals can be found all over The Whale, even in the bathroom. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Enjoying a meal and drinks at The Whale (left to right is Marc Taglieri, Roland Weinmann, Dayla Rumpf, James May, Chris Cardenas, Chris Taglieri, Jacki Liszak, Pam Flaherty, Jane Plummer and Tom Flaherty. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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Enjoying a meal and drinks at The Whale (left to right is Marc Taglieri, Roland Weinmann, Dayla Rumpf, James May, Chris Cardenas, Chris Taglieri, Jacki Liszak, Pam Flaherty, Jane Plummer and Tom Flaherty. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

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The Whale will reopen on Friday, Nov. 14. Photo by Nathan Mayberg


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Three years after Hurricane Ian battered one of the oldest commercial buildings on Fort Myers Beach, The Whale is reopening.

The owners of one of most iconic restaurants on the island held a sneak preview of its rebuild over the weekend with private parties to celebrate the transformation of the century-old wood-framed bar and restaurant into a three-floor architectural wonder.

The restaurant is set to have its grand reopening for the public this Friday, for what co-owner Mike Miller hopes will be a destination for Fort Myers Beach.

“This is a destination,” Miller said. “It’s not only your local watering hole.”

The rebirth of this destination almost didn’t happen after Hurricane Ian tore up and twisted The Whale into pieces just months after Miller purchased the property.

After Hurricane Ian hit, Miller considered selling the land rather than rebuild the totaled structure. He said he could have made a decent profit. He said his wife Dawn told him “absolutely not. We are rebuilding.”

With that determination, they embarked on their first rebuild of a restaurant, in fact their first attempt to build anything, Mr. Miller said. “This is the first thing me and my wife have built in our lives,” he said. The Millers, who hold business interests in Ohio and Tennessee, moved to Fort Myers Beach in 2018 after years of enjoying vacations here.

Speaking from the third floor of the Estero Boulevard restaurant and bar, overlooking one of the great views of Fort Myers Beach, Miller said the restaurant will retain its old menu.

An in-house smoker will be cooking the restaurant’s popular wings, brisket and ribs. He said there will also be specials chosen by the restaurant’s chef.

The Whale also features many large-screen televisions with packages for all of the major sporting events, Miller said. On the third floor, is a 100-inch big screen television to entertain guests. “We are getting all of the sports games,” he said.

Miller said each floor will offer dining and drinks for guests at the same price. “Everything we designed is for the community,” he said.

The Millers credited a large team of individuals into turning The Whale into one of the island’s most-eye catching structures.

Fowler Construction oversaw most of the work, which was designed and engineered by Moore and Spence Architects. Karen Benson, of Benson and Associates Interior Design, helped the Millers put together three floors of the inside of the bar and restaurant.

Impressive murals adorn the floors and the walls from along the stairs and into the bathrooms.

Looking over Estero Boulevard across the street to where another beach icon, Shucker’s at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar, stood before being leveled by Hurricane Ian, Miller said he is looking forward to its rebuild. “The more options people have, the more people will come to the island,” he said. “It’s all about the community. It’s not just about us.”

Over the summer, the Millers put together a mullet-throwing contest to engage the community and bring in more off-season tourism as part of an effort through the new business group What’s Up FMB?

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak called The Whale “amazing.” She credited the “perseverance” of the Millers in rebuilding the restaurant. Liszak called the reopening of The Whale “a glorious evening.”

Liszak called the rebuild of The Whale “one more win” for Fort Myers Beach.

“We encourage everyone to come down here, invest and rebuild,” Miller said.

Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com