{"id":278701,"date":"2026-05-20T22:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278701\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T22:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:27:15","slug":"a-new-tide-at-joes-dockside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/278701\/","title":{"rendered":"A new tide at Joe\u2019s Dockside"},"content":{"rendered":"

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JOE\u2019S DOCKSIDE \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n

Long before the name Joe\u2019s Dockside Marina appeared along San Carlos Boulevard, the waterfront property served as one of the primary gateways into Fort Myers Beach\u2019s boating and charter culture.\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

Now, the dockside location is entering a new chapter.\n<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s Dockside\u2019s 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.\n<\/p>\n

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Joe\u2019s Dockside rendering. -JOE\u2019S DOCKSIDE \/ COURTESY IMAGE<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

For co-owner Joe May, his eyes never lost sight of the property or the opportunities it could create.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the property and I saw great potential,\u201d May said. \u201cI 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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

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.\n<\/p>\n

The duo envisions the property as more than a traditional marina environment.\n<\/p>\n

Inspired by life on the water<\/p>\n

Boating has shaped much of May\u2019s life throughout Florida. He credits these experiences for shaping and influencing the vision behind Joe\u2019s Dockside.\n<\/p>\n

Frequent trips between waterfront destinations exposed him to a variety of marina environments, boating communities and dockside gathering spaces.\n<\/p>\n

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The open-air seating area at Joe\u2019s Dockside Marina on Fort Myers Beach is expected to undergo a major renovation as part of the marina\u2019s future expansion plans. -TYLER GIBSON \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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?\u201d May asked.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things I\u2019ve always enjoyed is a marina that has an aspect of being a working marina \u2014 a living, breathing entity.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Part of the marina\u2019s 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\u2019s commercial fishing roots while adding to the marina\u2019s working-waterfront atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing in the stone crabbers was something I really wanted because it keeps a place like this authentic,\u201d May said. \u201cIt keeps it real.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Fresh stone crab claws are also expected to become a featured offering at the marina, giving visitors access to locally sourced seafood.\n<\/p>\n

The marina\u2019s 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.\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

Sports, tourism and waterfront culture<\/p>\n

Daley said the vision for Joe\u2019s 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.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great that we\u2019re getting to do something and bring something to the community, but it\u2019s good to see everybody else coming back too,\u201d Daley said.\n<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tJoe\u2019s Dockside Marina blends Old Florida waterfront charm with a laid-back gathering space for boaters and visitors. -TYLER GIBSON \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tBoats dock along the marina at Joe\u2019s Dockside on Fort Myers Beach. -TYLER GIBSON \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY
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<\/p>\n

The sports-bar concept also reflects Daley\u2019s professional sports background while creating an entertainment-driven environment that complements the marina\u2019s boating atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 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,\u201d Daley said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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The layouts for Joe\u2019s Dockside expansion. -JOE\u2019S DOCKSIDE \/ COURTESY IMAGE<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people come here on vacation wanting to get out on the water, and I think that\u2019s where the captains and charter services are really going to benefit from the increased traffic and visibility,\u201d Daley said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do a great job marketing themselves and bringing people in, and now when customers get off the boat, they\u2019ll have a place where they can stick around, hang out and enjoy the atmosphere afterward too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

Looking toward the future<\/p>\n

Every morning, charter boats leave the docks in pursuit of tarpon, snapper and Gulf Coast sunrises. Owners hope the marina\u2019s next phase will capture that same energy while creating a destination that appeals to both locals and visitors.\n<\/p>\n

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\u2019s waterfront.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s kind of a reflection of who Joe and I are. That\u2019s 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,\u201d Daley said.\n<\/p>\n

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New expansion plans at Joe\u2019s Dockside plan to help increase visibility and traffic to local charter and boating activity. -TYLER GIBSON \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spend more time here than anywhere else, so it\u2019s really what we\u2019re looking for. We just want people to come in, enjoy it and love it as much as we do.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Daley said the goal is to create a place where both locals and visitors can experience the waterfront lifestyle, whether they\u2019re heading out on a charter, watching a game upstairs or simply enjoying time by the marina.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want people to enjoy themselves and experience what Southwest Florida is all about,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause you\u2019re not going to leave unhappy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s 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\u00a0www.joesdocksidemarina.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow their Instagram at @joesdockside.\n<\/p>\n

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