{"id":365066,"date":"2026-08-07T06:46:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365066\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T06:46:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T06:46:21","slug":"society-sweet-melissas-restaurant-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365066\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCIETY: Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant ribbon cutting ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185261\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Views-of-the-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-for-Sweet-Melissas-Restaurant-marking-the-arrival-of-their-new-.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185261\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Views of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant, marking the arrival of their new home location on Summerlin Road. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\">On Thursday August 6, 2026, Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant celebrated its relocation to Fort Myers and its new membership in the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting event. The chef-driven, farm-to-table restaurant welcomed local leaders, chamber members and media to experience the dining destination firsthand.\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:align-top\">James Beard Award nominee and Food Network alumna Chef Melissa Donahue greeted guests with light refreshments and delicious hors d\u2019oeuvres. Since relocating from Sanibel following Hurricane Ian in 2022, Sweet Melissa\u2019s has become a cornerstone of the Fort Myers dining scene and the ribbon cutting marked a formal celebration of its growth and ongoing commitment to the Southwest Florida community.\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185293\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185293\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sweet-Melissas-Executive-Sous-Chef-Thomas-Juneau-and-Executive-Chef-Melissa-Donahue.-DAVID-WISHTISCH.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185293\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sweet Melissa\u2019s Executive Sous-Chef Thomas Juneau and Executive Chef Melissa Donahue. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185269\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185269\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Holly-Boldrin-Stefanie-Ink-and-Teri-Hansen.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185269\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Holly Boldrin, Stefanie Ink and Teri Hansen. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185277\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/John-Lai-and-Kelly-Thawley.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Lai and Kelly Thawley. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185281\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/John-Schroder-Michele-Hoover-Jen-Whyte-and-Rob-Whyte.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jp.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185281\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Schroder, Michele Hoover, Jen Whyte and Rob Whyte. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1185309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Views-of-the-delicious-hors-doeuvres-from-Sweet-Melissas-ribbon-cutting-ceremony.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/>\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185285\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185285\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Nancy-MacPhee-and-Katie-Damminger.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185285\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nancy MacPhee and Katie Damminger. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185289\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Summer-Hammond-and-Kayla-King.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185289\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Summer Hammond and Kayla King. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185273\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185273\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Jade-Nakonetschny-Alex-Bustamante-and-Aaron-Walton.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185273\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jade Nakonetschny, Alex Bustamante and Aaron Walton. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185265\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Albert-Ferraro-Iris-Serrano-Michael-Stark-and-Russell-Zimny.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA-WEEKLY-scal.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185265\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Albert Ferraro, Iris Serrano, Michael Stark and Russell Zimny. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1185305\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sweet-Melissas-staff-posing-with-the-ribbon-out-front-of-their-new-home-location.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/>\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185301\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Sweet-Melissas-Restaurant-is-located-at-16230-Summerlin-Road-Fort-Myers.-DAVID-WISHTISCHIN-_-FLORIDA.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant is located at 16230 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1185257\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1185257\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786076533_368_Views-of-the-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-for-Sweet-Melissas-Restaurant-marking-the-arrival-of-their-new-.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1185257\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Views of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant, marking the arrival of their new home location on Summerlin Road. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Views of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Sweet Melissa\u2019s Restaurant, marking the arrival of their new home 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